

filass 'Vz. *1 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSrC 





N 




r 

« 



\ 




# 



i 

( 


L. 



A PILGRIM FROM IRELAND 





> iml. k -• J-. - *, 

JI&. ’ I * . w I* 


a? 


■ i : ■ ?a 

V ^L*TI , L - < •'* k_Ai.~ *. 




' r*,^n»" 

ijy- * - :■ 



f. 


% *“ 


■ •■ V • ■« '»'. 


..•’ *» 



- * •-> f 

■ yv/ 

* » « 


•• * • N ^ ' « ,*W 3 

' ~ ' ‘-v d ^ i>- 

1 i >"t«' - . ' '*• Jf ^ ' 

L**x’ '••. , '■' , 


e 




♦ _ ^ 


« ' 


%■ 




V • 


J-.. 




•’ ^r'T'V- 




I. 


» . * -' 


* *• 


• « 


it / • f 

^ I a. %. A - 


. . ^ ' T ... * -■ .> 

^ ■ 'iiL 


,t 


'. I 


♦ * 


'\ •* ' ^ 

-.!t 0. j 






♦ 0 . • % * i 

J -4 




P ^ 


iSL-.-*' • ’ > I' -V'^vwjS 

■ '*' '•-■'■.■lifcfflK-^ - * . V’ 


■•‘•f . 










i •*"/'^ 






» 



"The robbers fled and disappeared in the forest .” — Page 88 



A PILGRIM FROM 
IRELAND 


BY 

REV. MAURUS CARNOT, O.S.B. 

TRANSLATED BY 

MARY E. MAN NIX 


New York, Cincinnati, Chicago 

BENZIGER BROTHERS 

Printers to the Holy Apostolic See 
1908 


1 LIBRARY of CONSRESS,! 
Two Copies RecejViiiG 

JAN 31 1908 



Oopynjfrtt entry 

3f 

L/ASS ^ XXc. ii\j, I 




G'^ 


\% 


COPTRTGHT, 1908, BY BeNZIGER BROTHERS 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Author's Preface 5 

Translator's Preface 7 

CHAPTER I 

Sigisbert Comes to the Land of Rhoetia ... 9 

CHAPTER II 

The First Morning in the Land of Rhoetia . . 14 
CHAPTER HI 

How Sigisbert Traveled Farther 18 

CHAPTER IV 

How Sigisbert Made Some Acquaintances . . 24 

CHAPTER V 

The Hut in the Deep Forest 30 

CHAPTER VI 

The First Domestic Animals 41 

CHAPTER VII 

The Young Hunter 51 

CHAPTER VIII 

The Young Fisherman 58 


V 


VI 


Contents 


FACE 

CHAPTER IX 

The Kitchen 65 

CHAPTER X 

Sunday in the Forest 71 

CHAPTER XI 

In Autumn 77 

CHAPTER XII 

A Sorrowful Night 85 

CHAPTER XIII 

Preparing for Winter 90 

CHAPTER XIV 

The Need of Bread 100 

CHAPTER XV 

What Sigisbert and Columbia Did 108 

CHAPTER XVI 

The Two Merchants 113 

CHAPTER XVII 

The Coming of Winter 122 

CHAPTER XVIII 

The Little Hamlet of Desertina 126 


AUTHOR’S PREFACE 

Not far from my cloister there is a little 
hillock, upon which stands a lonely tree, 
and under the shade of this tree there is a 
solitary bench. I love to sit there, because 
it gives mine eyes much to feast upon; the 
pretty village with its houses of timber and 
stone, the green woods, and beyond them 
the fields where the cattle roam in summer 
time, the meadow where glistening scythes 
swing to and fro, and the yellow corn is 
waving. And there three roads meet, and 
there comes to mine ears the sound of 
trampling hoofs and rumbling wheels. 

The cloister overlooks the landscape, 
and above each tower the cross gleams in 
the golden sunshine. 

Indeed, the eye could never tire of the 

5 


6 


Author’s Preface 


beautiful scene stretching farther and far- 
ther in the distance. And in the lonely 
tree a little bird is singing as though it 
would ask: ''What is it that charms thee 
so?” 

And I answered the tiny songster: — 
"Knowest thou, birdling, I am think- 
ing of the past; I am thinking of the 
good man who came from green and holy 
Erin, far away, to beautify and make pros- 
perous this land. And I have bethought me 
that I will tell the tale. It is a charming 
story, and I will write it for the children 
and for their elders to whom they are dear, 
as they were to the heart of Sigisbert, the 
Pilgrim from Ireland.” 

Maurus Carnot. 


TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE 


The charm of this little tale lies princi- 
pally in its quaint and beautiful simpli- 
city, as well as the reality with which the 
writer invests its every incident. The 
snow-capped mountains, the grassy valleys, 
the streams with their mossy banks — we 
see them all; the venerable Sigisbert, the 
sturdy Ratus, the gentle Columbin, the man 
who fell among robbers — we seem to know 
them, every one. We share their labors 
and their repose, we sit beside them at the 
hospitable fireside, we rest with them in the 
dense and silent forest, the compassionate 
moon and faithful stars watching our tired 
sleep. 

To the translator, her work has been a 
labor of love. To the fortunate reader, 
whether child or adult, the fascinating tale 
must be both profitable and delightful. 

7 



A PILGRIM FROM 
IRELAND 


CHAPTER I 

SiGiSBERT Comes to the Land of 
Rhcetia 

D ear children: What I am about to 
relate to you took place neither yes- 
terday nor the day before yesterday, but 
more than a thousand years ago. And 
where is that land in which these things 
happened that I am going to tell you? 
Have you never heard of the Rhine ? 
The Rhine is a river which runs 
through a very great extent of country. If 
you should be desirous of knowing the 
source of this river, you will have to journey 
to the mountains. On the top of a very 
high mountain there is a little lake; from 
9 


10 Sigisbert Comes to 

this lake the Rhine begins to flow downward 
till it reaches a valley below. But it is as 
yet only a tiny brook. This mountain and 
valley were formerly called Rhoetia. The 
little green lake was at that time in the mid- 
dle of a wood; trees that remained green 
all winter grew on both sides of the valley. 
All around and above them were ice and 
snow, which never melted during the warm- 
est season. 

It was a lovely evening in summer. In 
the blue sky the gentle, silvery moon was 
shining. All about her the stars were 
gleaming, serene and clear in the broad blue 
heavens. But in the thick forest of fir-trees 
that sloped downward to the valley it was 
not so bright, for the high mountain cast 
a deep shadow in the moonlight. All around 
it was very still and peaceful. The birds 
had gone to sleep, but the screech owl was 
awake in an ancient fir-tree, and his cry 
rang through the peaceful night. 

Suddenly, the figure of a man appeared in 


The Land of Rhcetia 


11 


the gloomy wood. He carried an iron- 
tipped staff in his hand, by the help of which 
he traversed the stony pathway. Who could 
have come so late into the valley ? It was 
a wanderer. Poor man, may God protect 
him! 

The traveler stepped lightly and quickly 
forward, letting no grass grow under his 
feet as he passed. He continued his way 
through the wood, and soon left it behind till 
he came upon a wide heath where few flow- 
ers grew, but a multitude of stars looked 
down, and the tall shadow of the pilgrim 
went ever beside him. Farther and farther 
he journeyed, and soon the forest closed 
about him. He dared fl^t rest. Why not? 
Because the people on the other side of the 
mountain had driven him away with cruel 
threats of torture and death, though he had 
never done anything but good in their be- 
half. Now and then he glanced quickly be- 
hind him to see if he were followed. But 
he saw no one. 


12 


Sigisbert Comes to 


After a while he came to a small moun- 
tain lake; it shone like gold in the moon- 
light, streaming down from the dark blue 
heavens. The banks were lined with great 
stones as high as a man, with here and there 
a fir-tree ; and between the trees and stones 
were quantities of briers and brambles. The 
traveler paused, leaning against a rock in 
order to breathe and rest a little. Presently 
he sat down, with his head against the stone, 
and slept; and his slumber was as quiet as 
the sleep of death. All at once he was 
awakened by a noise in the bushes. Fright- 
ened he sprang to his feet. But his alarm 
soon vanished; through the brambles he 
perceived a roe drinking from the shimmer- 
ing water. The moon still rode high in 
the heavens, but its light was not so bright 
as when he had lain down. The good man 
longed for the night to be over, as he jour- 
neyed farther and farther from the lake 
until he came to the top of the mountain. 
And then he stood still and gazed at the 


The Land of Rhoetia 


13 


dark forest and the peaceful valley beneath 
him ; he was looking for the first time upon 
the beautiful land of Rhoetia. 


CHAPTER II 


The First Morning in the Land 
IF Rhcetia 

TV/HO was the lonely wanderer? His 
name was Sigisbert. Peace sat 
enthroned upon his brow, and his eyes shone 
with sweetness and loving kindness. It was 
the dawn of the morning; soon above the 
distant mountain peaks the heavens burst 
forth into flaming splendor. Long did Sig- 
isbert gaze upon it ; he seemed like an image 
carven out of stone, standing there in the 
blush of the morning. 

Sigisbert the wanderer was tall and hand- 
some. His long black robe flowed about him 
almost to the ground. He wore neither hat 
nor cap as a protection for his head. His 
hair was gray; upon the temples almost 
14 


First Morning in Rhootia 15 

white. A thick gray beard extended half- 
way down his bosom. A leathern girdle 
fastened his full robe about the waist; on 
the right side hung a chain from which a 
knife depended. His right hand clasped an 
oaken staif ending in an iron point, fastened 
to a small transverse piece of wood, so that 
the staff was in reality a cross. Oh, if that 
staff could have spoken, how many tales 
could it not have told of land and sea, of 
cities and villages, of forest and field ! The 
road from the oak wood in distant Ireland 
where the staff first grew to the mountain in 
Rhcetia was so long, so long! And how 
much would it not have had to tell of good 
and evil days, of joyful hours and sorrow- 
ful! 

The traveler wore a pair of thick leathern 
sandals, fastened with straps. But, as he 
stood there in the glorious morning light, the 
soles of his feet were bleeding; showing 
how long and toilsome was the way he had 
come. And now the sun appeared from be- 


16 


The First Morning in 


hind the mountain-tops, like a broad ex- 
panse of shining gold. It gleamed so bril- 
liantly upon the snow-covered peaks that 
the eyes of the good traveler could not 
bear the reflection. He looked down into 
the valley beneath him, enveloped in a man- 
tle of misty blue. 

And all around it were green trees laden 
with dewdrops glistening like the rainbow ; 
and the birds flew out of their nests, singing 
gaily and sweetly, as though in thankful- 
ness to the good God for the sun and the 
dew. They came nearer and nearer to Sigis- 
bert, and it seemed to him that they were 
warbling in his ears these very words : 
“Lonely wanderer, we greet thee, and bid 
thee welcome.” 

The sun mounted higher and higher in 
the sky, filling the whole valley with its 
radiance. Sigisbert raised his eyes joyfully 
to heaven; but soon dropped them earth- 
ward and again continued his journey. 
Presently he espied a stream springing from 


The Land of Rhcetia 


17 


beneath a rock. He approached it, dipped 
his hand in the cold, murmuring water, 
bathed his forehead and eyes, and washed 
his bleeding feet. Then kneeling on the 
mossy ground beside it, he steadied his staff 
on his shoulder, clasped about it hands that 
trembled with fatigue and joy, and poured 
forth his soul in this tuneful prayer. 

“Once more doth shine the morning, 

To God the giver grateful be ; 

That through the long and dreary night 
From danger he has kept us free. 

So that when day once more shall fade 
And night again doth round us creep. 

Sinless and calm and unafraid. 

Upon his bosom we may sleep.” 

And while for a space Sigisbert prayed to 
the Almighty, the larks fluttered and sang 
round about him in the radiant air. Thus 
passed for the good pilgrim Sigisbert his 
first morning in the beautiful land of 
Rhoetia. 


. CHAPTER III 

How SiGiSBERT Traveled Farther 

W HEN Sigisbert had finished his prayer, 
he stood up and again took his pil- 
grim-staff in his hand. Then he turned 
his eyes in the direction whence he had 
come. Did he fear something, or suspect 
that he had been followed ? O, no ! There 
was no fear in his eyes ; they were soft and 
shining. It was as though they fain would 
seek a country beyond the mountains, far, 
far away over many lands and many seas. 
But ah ! he could not see it, that dear Fath- 
erland. Then he stretched forth his hand 
and said in a low, trembling voice, tears 
filling his eyes, ‘‘Farewell, dear, dear home ! 
I shall see thee nevermore. I send thee 
greeting over land and over sea. Take the 
18 


How Sigisbert Traveled Farther 19 

love and longing of thy son, the only one 
thou hast here in Rhoetia. Green Island, 
distant, beloved home, farewell; and God 
be with thee !” Then he slowly turned about 
once more and wiped the tears from his 
mild blue eyes. 

Smiling, he passed onward in the fresh 
morning, though tears still shone in his eyes 
and his brow was clouded with the sadness 
of the thoughts that oppressed him. The 
forest became more and more dense. What 
trees! Here and there he came across a 
trunk so thick that two men could scarcely 
have encircled it with their arms. The broad 
overhanging branches formed a green arbor 
above him as he walked. Only at intervals 
could the sunlight penetrate to the emerald 
floor beneath. Now and then he would 
come upon an Alpine rose as red as wine, 
and all through the thick grass, white, blue 
and yellow flowers were blooming. But 
there was no road, no path through the 
forest. Sigisbert murmured to himself : 


20 How Sigisbert Traveled Farther 

“Pleasanter was it to journey through the 
oakwoods outside my native village. Here 
I am alone, all alone, save for the wild 
beasts that in this place have their lairs and 
their accustomed ways. Still I fear neither 
bear nor wolf ; the strong hand of God will 
protect me from danger.” 

Fearlessly he continued his descent into 
the valley. To his right he now heard the 
noise of a flowing stream ; it was the infant 
Rhine, its white foam rushing between the 
green bushes and red Alpine roses with 
which its banks were lined. 

Suddenly Sigisbert paused. He had seen 
a roe, in color a dark, rusty yellow. It 
was trembling all over, as it drank a little 
from the stream, looking back fearfully with 
its beautiful eyes. Then with one spring it 
leaped across the water and disappeared in 
the forest. Sigisbert glanced after it; he 
heard the crackling of dry branches on the 
ground. A bear, an immense, shaggy bear I 
Sigisbert gave a little fearful cry, and hid 


How Sigisbert Traveled Farther 21 

himself behind a fir-tree. The bear sniffed 
right and left, trotted towards the brook, 
stood on his hind feet and jumped over the 
stream. As he landed on the other side, Sigis- 
bert, still trembling, heard the thud of his 
great paws upon the ground. Then once more 
it was still, as the bear ploughed onward 
through the forest. But Sigisbert murmured : 
“Hurry, hurry poor roe, or soon you will 
bleed under the paws of the cruel bear!’' 

Farther and farther fared the wanderer 
downward to the valley; now close to the 
Rhine, now stepping upon the hillside. The 
sun stood high in the heavens. Sigisbert 
sought and found some wild strawberries, 
laying a handful on a broad, green leaf. His 
search for the fruit had brought him close 
to the bank of the little river, and he sat 
down beside it. He took from his pocket a 
small piece of dry bread. Then he said the 
“Our Father’’ and settled himself upon the 
mossy ground to eat his simple meal. And 
as he sat there, he said half aloud: 


22 How Sigisbert Traveled Farther 

“The table of my dear parents was three 
times as well furnished with meat and flour, 
and in my cloister also I had better food; 
still I will be content. The dear God has 
been good to me, and I will work for 
Him.” And after he had eaten he said: 
“God bless the welcome meal.” 

After an hour’s rest, well fortified by the 
bread, water and strawberries of which he 
had partaken, Sigisbert again resumed his 
journey. At the foot of the mountain he 
stood still, facing a strip of open moor- 
land. Naught grew there but an old wea- 
ther-beaten fir, not far from which sparkled 
a tiny spring. Sigisbert saw nowhere any 
traces of wild beasts, and with a feeling of 
relief, he said aloud : “Here dwell no wild 
beasts, here will I take shelter for the 
night.” * 

The sun was already far down in the 
west, the mountain-tops glistened like fiery 
coals ; as the orb of day sunk behind them, 
Sigisbert knelt once more and said his 


How Sigishert Traveled Farther 23 

nightly prayer. When he dwelt in the mon- 
astery with his brethren, they all prayed 
together in the chapel, but now Sigisbert 
was obliged to pray alone. 

'‘O holy Light, O three in one, 

God of our souls, the day is done ! 

Though vanished now the sunshine be. 
We find our Light, our Day in Thee! 

We praise Thee in our morning song. 
The psalms of night to Thee belong. 

O may we ever faithful be, 

And praise Thee through Eternity I” 

And then he said “Our Father’" for the 
country he had now chosen as his second 
home. By this time night had fallen. High 
over the mountain forest shone the moon; 
thousands and thousands of stars illumined 
the heavens. Sigisbert lay down to rest, 
the grassy floor his bed, a moss covered 
stone his pillow, the lovely blue starry heav- 
ens the roof of his broad resting place. 


CHAPTER IV 

How SiGiSBERT Made Some 
Acquaintances 

HE night was past, and again the birds 



were singing in the fir-trees. Sigis- 
bert arose, went to the spring, washed his 
face and drank some cool fresh water. He 
felt many years younger than on the preced- 
ing evening. He was so contented this 
morning; he had found a home where he 
might remain. He said his morning prayer 
and then his thin but firm, strong hand 
grasped his staff once more. He wished to 
find neither gold nor silver, neither honor 
nor glory; he sought only men. And he 
would strive to make them as happy as he 
was in his own heart. 

What was that in the bushes ? Could it be 
another bear? Sigisbert held his hand over 


24 


How Sigisbert Made Acquaintances 25 

his eyes and peered into the forest. There 
he saw two boys under a tree. They must 
also have seen him at the same moment, for 
they seemed astonished. The larger one 
held a great withered bough in his hand. 
He was ready to protect himself if per- 
chance the old man might seek to injure 
them. They both shrank slowly behind the 
broad trunk of the tree. Sigisbert advanced 
towards them, and smilingly beckoned to 
them. But the boys did not move. He 
came nearer, and not a little alarmed, they 
took each other by the hand. But the kind- 
looking stranger seemed only friendly, and 
he placed his hand on the head of the elder 
boy. And thus vanished their fears, for 
they saw that the man in the black robe 
meant them no harm. 

The larger of the two boys was a strong, 
hearty fellow, with muscular arms, and 
looked with his great black eyes squarely 
into those of the stranger. He was appar- 
ently about fifteen years old. The other was 


26 How Sigishert Made Acquaintances 

smaller and thinner; he had probably seen 
some twelve summers. His blue eyes were 
shyly lifted to the face of the tall, unknown 
man before him. The clothing of both was 
very scanty. They had no head-covering 
of any kind; they wore neither shoes nor 
sandals. The younger of the two had a 
fresh cut on his forehead. No one had 
washed or bound up the gaping wound. 

Sigisbert began to question them. He 
spoke Latin, of which the boys seemed to 
understand a little, for the language of 
Rhoetia bore some resemblance to the Latin 
tongue. From time to time the boys would 
shake their heads and smile at each other, 
but occasionally they would be able to an- 
swer the questions of the friendly stranger.* 

Sigisbert was filled with joy at this meet- 
ing. Taking the little one by the hand, he 

♦The children spoke a sort of corrupt Latin, which was 
the language of the country, and had really a better 
command of the language, perhaps, than had Sigisbert, 
who had doubtless learned Latin only after he had left 
his native land. Thus they were very soon able to 
understand each other. 


How Sigisbert Made Acquaintances 27 

said, ‘"Come, we will look for water,” and 
they went towards the Rhine, which flowed 
near by. Sigisbert took from the pocket of 
his black robe a white linen cloth, dipped it 
in the cool water, and cleansed the wound 
upon the forehead of the little boy. It was 
high time; the wound was full of poison. 
Then he washed the bloody face and small 
thin hands of the boy and afterwards rins- 
ing out the linen in the clear running water 
bound it about the wounded forehead. Oh, 
how grateful those boys were to the good 
old man! The elder boy also washed his 
hands and face, and dried them in the sun. 
Oh, how fresh and sweet they seemed now, 
in the pretty green wood! The larger boy 
leaped along over stones almost as high 
as himself. After a while Sigisbert gave 
them each a small piece of bread. Never 
had anything tasted half so good ! 

Said Sigisbert at last : “Are you not afraid 
here in the forest, alone?” 

“We are afraid of bears and wolves,” 


28 How Sigisbert Made Acquaintances 

replied the elder. ‘‘We hardly dare breathe 
as we go through the wood. Only a few 
days ago a wicked bear tore our companion 
to pieces. We found the corpse; it was 
all bloody and one arm was gone.” 

Sigisbert’s heart grew sad at this tale, and 
as the younger boy walked beside him he 
drew nearer and great tears rolled from 
his blue eyes. The other continued to talk, 
and Sigisbert listened, now and then asking 
him a question. He learned that farther 
along in the valley people were living, as 
well as here and there on the hillsides. The 
sun was now directly over the heads of 
Sigisbert and his young companions, whom 
the good old man would fain have kept be- 
side him. But he looked up at the blue sky, 
and then making the sign of the cross on the 
forehead of the elder boy he said, “Thou art 
my good Ratus,” making the same holy sign 
upon the brow of the younger, he said, “And 
thou art my dear Columbin. Thou must 
wash thy wound again this evening. And 


How Sigishert Made Acquaintances 29 

now go home! When the sun rises in the 
heavens to-morrow, come to me once 
more !” 

The little Columbin asked, “Where shall 
you be to-morrow?” 

The old man pointed, “Over there,” he 
said. “Call ‘Sigisbert,’ and we shall find 
each other soon I” 

“Sigisbert, Sigisbert,” joyfully repeated 
the boys as they walked away, looking back 
often until the good old man disappeared 
from their sight. Sigisbert’s lips trembled; 
he was praying for his dear little friends, 
and begging the angels to take care of them. 


CHAPTER V 


The Hut in the Deep Forest 

QIGISBERT proceeded on his way 
^ through the forest, the valley widen- 
ing as he went. As far as his eyes could see, 
it stretched onward and onward. About 
midday a picturesque valley opened towards 
the south. A little mountain stream ran 
through it, on its pathway to the Rhine. On 
the high mountains beyond, the snow 
gleamed in the sunshine like fire and flame. 
Sigisbert stood gazing at the landscape, 
which pleased him very much. He planted 
his staff on the ground, and cried: ^‘Not one 
step farther ! Now have I found the place 
of my labor and my rest. Here shall I 
die; here shall be my grave!’* 

Tired, Sigisbert sat down upon a stone, 
30 


The Hut in the Deep Forest 31 

and gazed smiling through the vistas of the 
old fir-trees. Why was he smiling? He 
knew of no house where he might dwell in 
winter, when it snowed and stormed. He 
saw no hut that might shelter him from the 
teeth of the hungry wolves or the claws of 
the bear that had torn to pieces the roe and 
the boy. But he put his hand in the pocket 
of his wide black robe and drew forth an 
ax and he looked smilingly upon it as he 
said, ‘‘Thou must help me!’^ At the same 
time he loosened the knife that hung at his 
girdle by its iron chain. His pale counte- 
nance grew ruddier. He looked for a fine 
straight branch and when found he stripped 
it of leaves and bark and broke it into fine 
pieces. These he fitted into the ax as a 
handle, and it was ready for hard labor. 
Sigisbert then stepped forward to a high, 
slim fir-tree, lifted his ax and swung it skil- 
fully against the trunk. How that well- 
directed blow sounded through the wood! 
If any of the little birds were asleep in 


32 The Hut in the Deep Forest 

their nests, it must surely have awakened 
them. Blow followed blow, the chips and 
splinters flew along the ground. Soon the 
fir-tree swayed and then sank slowly to the 
ground, the first tree that was to help build 
the house of the good old man. But there 
were many yet to be felled. 

The sun had set. Calm, still night de- 
scended upon the tired laborer. The next 
morning, before the sun had risen, the 
strokes of the ax could be heard through 
the forest. Another tree lay across the 
first, upon the ground. Suddenly came a 
fresh, loud shout through the wood, and 
two voices called out: 

“Hoho, hoho, Sigisbert!’’ Sigisbert an- 
swered, “Ratus! Columbin!” but his voice 
was neither so clear nor so loud as that 
of the boys. He went to meet them and 
brought them over to the fallen trees. Co- 
lumbin had the cloth still bound around his 
forehead, but he and his comrade had 
washed their faces and hands. They opened 


The Hut in the Deep Forest 33 

their eyes wide when they saw the prostrate 
trees, and Ratus asked : 

“What are you going to do?'' Sigisbert 
laughed and responded, “I am building a 
house. When it rains and snows, I must 
have a roof to cover me. And when the 
wolf or the bear comes, I must have a hut 
to shelter me." 

“Yes, yes," said Columbin, coming nearer 
to Sigisbert. “The bear is always hungry; 
he tore our companion to pieces." 

“Will you help me build my house?" 
asked the old man. 

“Yes, yes, yes, we shall be glad to help!" 
cried both the boys, with beaming eyes. And 
Ratus rubbed his hands together as if ready 
to begin. 

Then Sigisbert gave the ax to the strong 
Ratus and said, “Take it and go to work. 
But take care of your feet. See yonder 
slender tree? I have hacked a mark on 
the bark. You may fell it; I will show you 
how to do it." 


34 The Hut in the Deep Forest 

Then Sigisbert made a stroke with the 
ax. Ratus thought he could do as well, or 
even better. Trembling with joy, he took 
the ax in his hand and swung it, ever faster 
and faster. More and more skilfully blow 
followed blow. 

“Not so fast and not so wildly, my brave 
little Ratus, the day is long,” counseled Sig- 
isbert. “And thou, Columbin, come with 
me. We will go to the little stream. We 
must see how thy wound is doing.” 

Meanwhile Ratus wielded the ax as well 
as he could until a tree fell, and Sigisbert 
took the little Columbin by the hand and 
led him to the rivulet. On the way they 
talked of various things. Sigisbert had al- 
ready observed that the delicate Columbin 
had a clever head, and that he could work 
better with his mind than his arms. Ratus 
with his strong brown hands could readily 
find employment. And Ratus and Columbin 
were both right courageous and cheerful. 
So thought Sigisbert as he washed and 


The Hut in the Deep Forest 35 

dressed the wound of his little friend. 

After a while they went back to the place 
where Ratus was working. But they no 
longer heard the sound of the ax, and Sigis- 
bert said, laughing, ^'Aha! Ratus is tired 
already.’^ As they came nearer, they saw 
him standing against a tree. His face was 
red, his eyes fixed on the ground, where 
lay the broken ax-handle. 

Sigisbert could not help smiling as he 
asked, “What ails you, Ratus? You can 
not have done as I told you. Have you 
broken the handle?’^ 

Ratus trembled but said nothing. 

“A handle is soon made, my Ratus,’’ con- 
tinued the old man. “Do not be unhappy.” 
The good Father Sigisbert so consoled his 
friend Ratus, that he soon became cheerful 
again. In a short time a new handle was 
ready and placed in the ax. And now Co- 
lumbin wanted to try what he could do with 
it. But his strokes were very feeble — and 
he came very near hurting his little feet. 


36 The Hut in the Deep Forest 

Then Sigisbert took the ax from him and 
said, “You are too small for this work. 
But you can gather moss from the stones 
over there.’’ Columbin looked ashamed and 
hung his head. But he went over to the 
stones and began to gather the beautiful 
long moss. And so earnest was he at his 
work and so skilful that his little fingers 
began to bleed. 

“Enough, enough !” cried Sigisbert at 
last to both of his workmen. They came 
to him, both covered with perspiration. 
“Now let us look for strawberries again,” 
he said. It was no sooner said than done. 
A flat stone served as a table. Strawberries 
and a small piece of bread for each formed 
the slight repast. Alas! It was the last 
piece that Sigisbert had in his pocket. 

Afterwards all three worked until even- 
ing. At length Sigisbert said to his helpers, 
“It will soon be night. Now go home to 
father and mother, brother and sister, that 
they may not be alarmed about you.” Co- 


The Hut in the Deep Forest 37 

lumbin dropped his head on his bosom, and 
looked at his thin little feet. It was not the 
bleeding cracks in those feet that made him 
feel badly ; it was that which he had now to 
reveal to the kind old man. Sorrowfully he 
looked up at Sigisbert and said, in a low 
voice, “We have no home, neither father nor 
mother; we have no one, no one.” 

“But where did you spend the night?” 
asked Sigisbert, astonished. 

“Over there, under the shadow of a great 
rock, on the moss, where no bear could find 
us. We were well sheltered,” answered the 
sturdy Ratus. Sigisbert smiling shook his 
head, and Columbin said, in a low voice, 
“Sigisbert, we would dearly love to stay 
here with you.” And then the boy with the 
gentle, lovely face smiled, as Sigisbert an- 
swered, “Now I am indeed content. Stay 
here with me; there will be room enough 
for us three in the hut.” 

Again the day was done. The summer 
night was sweet and warm, and the three 


38 The Hut in the Deep Forest 

slept soundly under the blue sky. But the 
next day was hard. Wood and moss for 
the building of the hut were gathered, and 
placed upon the ground as Sigisbert had de- 
cided to build his house near the great fir- 
tree. But on the evening of the second day 
he stood alone under the tree, weeping. Co- 
lumbin stole softly up to him and asked him 
sorrowfully, 'Tather Sigisbert, why dost 
thou weep?” The old man laid his hand 
on the curly head of the boy and replied, 
‘T was thinking of my home, and ” 

“Oh! do not forsake us!” cried Colum- 
bin, now beginning to weep also. 

“No, no, I am not going away,” answered 
Sigisbert, “but I weep because I have noth- 
ing for you to eat.” 

“Oh! that does not matter, we will look 
for roots and herbs, as we have often done 
before,” replied the good little boy. 

Meanwhile Ratus had approached them, 
and Sigisbert said to the pair : “Be patient, 
in a short time we shall have a better table 


The Hut in the Deep Forest 39 

and better food, and then your cheeks will 
grow plump and rosy.” 

On the third day they began to build. The 
boughs were put into position. Two long 
branches were laid across, one way, two 
shorter ones fixed firmly upon them, and so 
the house grew larger and larger, and higher 
and higher, and presently was above Sigis- 
bert’s head. Columbin was too small to help 
them now. He stood in front of the dwell- 
ing, repeating again and again: “Ha! 
Ratus is as swift as a bird, and as strong as 
a bear.” Then small strips for laths, were 
laid across the walls, and over them were 
placed green fir branches. Sigisbert and Co- 
lumbin covered up the interstices with small 
branches and moss. Before sundown they 
had made a window, and the door was 
hard by the trunk of the large old fir- 
tree. 

Sigisbert had also arranged two branches 
in the form of a cross. Ratus fastened it to 
the roof, and cried out so that the birds flew 


40 The Hut in the Deep Forest 

in alarm from the neighboring branches: 
‘‘God be praised and thanked/' 

Sigisbert had now a dwelling for himself 
and his dear boys, whom he already loved 
as a kind father loves his children. And 
once more night fell, and there, in the 
cleverly built house slumbered the trio: 
Sigisbert and the two boys. And high in 
the heavens shone the golden moon above 
the gloomy forest, and looked through the 
tiny crevices in the walls and roof, into 
the little hut. Good night ! 


CHAPTER VI 

The First Domestic Animals 

T hree hungry men and not a mouthful 
of bread/' sighed Sigisbert next 
morning, as he sat on a stone in front of the 
little dwelling. The sun was mounting up- 
ward and the morning sky seemed like a 
meadow full of pinks and red roses. 

The birds and squirrels were all awake 
in the forest, but Ratus and Columbin were 
still asleep on their mossy bed. The labors 
of the preceding day had left them very 
tired. Sigisbert was praying. The morning 
sun illumined his pale countenance. Half 
aloud he murmured, “Dear and holy Christ 
Jesus, once in the wilderness thou didst 
feed the people with bread. Have pity on 
a poor old man and two helpless children !" 
41 


42 The First Domestic Animals 

As he prayed he looked about him and said, 
‘‘This is also a little wilderness. I would 
call it a miniature desert/' He arose, went, 
in search of strawberries, found some, laid 
them on two large green leaves, and above 
them repeated these words, “God bless the 
morning meal for two good children.” 

Hark! From the hut came the clear 
voice of Columbin, “Ratus, Ratus, get up! 
The sun is peeping through the windows !” 

In a short time the two boys came out 
of the little house and stood beside the old 
man. “Good morning. Good morning!” he 
cried. “Have you both slept well ? Yonder 
is the brook. Go and wash the sleep from 
your eyes. Bathe face, hands and neck well 
in the cool fresh water. Then come back, 
you will find breakfast on the table!” 

Washing and a strawberry breakfast was 
a light and sweet task, and soon finished. 
Then all three seated themselves on the 
broad, flat stone in front of the hut. In 
the trees and from the roof of the little 


The First Domestic Animals 43 

dwelling sang the birds merrily. The three 
on the stone spoke to each other thus. 

Said Sigisbert, “Ratus, dost thou know of 
many animals in the great woods?’' ^'Oh 
yes,” Ratus replied, “I have seen bears and 
wolves and smaller animals also, as many 
as you like.” 

^‘God protect us from the claws of the 
bear and the teeth of the wolf. Dost thou 
know of any other animals besides these ?” 

yes, there are others. They live on 
the high mountains where the moss and 
white flowers grow. What they do for food 
I cannot say. But they are fine and fat 
handsome animals, and, oh, how fast they 
run ! They could jump over our house with 
one spring.” 

'‘We could not catch these animals easily,” 
said Sigisbert. “What do you think, Co- 
lumbin ?” 

“No, no, we can not catch them,” said 
Ratus. “One has to be very cunning when 
one LS in their neighborhood. But farther 


44 The First Domestic Animals 

still in the mountains I have seen, other 
animals. They are not so swift and wild 
as the others, but neither are they so 
pretty.^’ 

“Now, I remember I once saw a beast 
like that. A man had caught him, but soon 
let him go again. He had big crumpled 
horns and long hair,” said Columbin. 

“Crumpled horns and long hair!” said 
Sigisbert. “That is the goat. My father 
owned fully two hundred such animals. 
When I was young I used to herd them in 
the forest and on the heath. No light 
labor!” 

“It would not be possible to care for two 
hundred like these, no. Thy animals could 
not have been so frisky. We could not 
take care of two, even,” said Ratus. 

“Without doubt they are goats-, however,” 
said Sigisbert. “They learn very quickly to 
live with man. They are easily tamed.” 

Sigisbert stood up. The boys were al- 
ready standing. When he had spoken of 


The First Domestic Animals 45 

having herded two hundred goats, they had 
risen to their feet in astonishment. The old 
man laid his hand on Columbin’s head and 
said, “Now, Columbin, thou wilt stay here 
and take care of the house. Thou hast 
worked hard enough. The sun and moon 
can shine through the chinks and crevices 
of our house, and the roof is not thick 
enough to keep out the rain. It shall be 
thy task to fill up the spaces with moss. 
That will not take long. So now, farewell, 
Columbin. Thou, Ratus, come with me. 
We shall be back before evening.” 

Sigisbert and Ratus began their journey 
through the forest. Ratus was curious and 
inquired, “But whither goest thou? And 
what dost thou seek in the wood ? Goats ?” 

“Yes, my Ratus, to-day we shall capture 
a goat,” answered Sigisbert. 

“Capture a goat? That will not be so 
easy. In summer time they go high up, 
seeking the richest grass. Once I caught 
a young one — such a pretty little thing. But 


46 The First Domestic Animals 

it cried so bitterly that I pitied it and let 
it go. It cried this way.” And Ratus began 
to bleat like a goat. He imitated the sound 
so well that Sigisbert laughed aloud. When 
Ratus heard him he said, “Is that the way 
thy goats at home did?” Sigisbert nodded, 
and went on laughing. Yes, indeed, Sigis- 
bert had great hopes of the quick and ob- 
servant Ratus. 

The sun was high in the heavens and the 
goat hunters were also high up in the moun- 
tains. The sharp eyes of the tireless Ratus 
had already perceived several goats, one, 
two, three. They were in a ravine between 
two rocks. 

“Now is the time,” said Sigisbert, holding 
his breath. “I will stay here behind these 
thick bushes ; Ratus, do thou go to the other 
end of the ravine !” 

But Ratus had already formed his own 
plan and acted upon it at once. He 
began to chirp like a squirrel and was 
soon at the narrow entrance of the 


The First Domestic Animals 47 

ravine. And then he began to bleat. The 
goats pricked up their ears. One was very 
large, another middle-sized and the third 
quite small. The two smaller animals sprang 
in answering the call, closer to the boy. 
Nearer and nearer but warily came the 
heavy old fellow ; he paused to munch some 
grass, bleated, and went on. Sigisbert had 
watched carefully, and now stepped farther 
into the ravine. Ratus continued to creep 
along, saying softly to himself, ‘The old 
one first, and then the others very soon.” 

Onward they came and onward. Breath- 
less, Ratus waited behind a stone. Now the 
old black goat seemed to suspect something. 
He looked up, ready to spring over the 
rocks and get away. 

“Hello ! hello ! thou art mine,” cried 
Ratus, with his strong hands already en- 
circling the hind- feet of the big animal. The 
goat resisted, sprang up, and then fell heav- 
ily to the ground. They battled together 
for a short time, the boy and the goat, each 


48 The First Domestic Animals 

receiving some bloody scratches. Sigisbert 
hurried forward and cried out to the weary 
boy, “Hold fast, Ratus, hold fast!’’ 

“If thou wert only in my place!’’ an- 
swered the boy, not without pride in his own 
achievement. Sigisbert produced a piece 
of rope and bound the goat fast under 
the horns ; again he tried to spring away, 
but Ratus had strong arms and proudly led 
his captive down the mountain side, the 
other two following, bleating as they came. 
Sigisbert was very happy at the lucky ending 
of their quest. 

At last they were nearly home. Ratus 
could not restrain himself from shouting 
aloud. The captive goats trembled in fear, 
but Columbin quickly ran out of the hut, 
screaming and shouting with joy. “What 
long horns and thick hair !” he cried. The 
little one was at once adopted by Columbin 
and began to lick his hand. The older ones 
could not so easily bid adieu to their former 
freedom. Ratus fastened them to a tree. 


The First Domestic Animals 49 

near the hut and said, “Now jump all you 
wish!’’ Sigisbert made a kind of bucket 
out of a piece of wood before the sun went 
down. Ratus must now learn to milk. 
What joy for him as the milk ran down in 
long white streams almost overflowing the 
vessel that held it. Ratus was deft and 
strong; if he had not been, the goat would 
have overturned the bucket. 

To the surprise of the boys, Sigisbert now 
produced a small vessel made of glittering 
shell; he had found it on the sea-shore 
near his home, and had carried it with him 
through all his wanderings. Out of this 
beautiful shell they drank the fresh warm 
milk. This evening meal tasted so good to 
little Columbin that Ratus began to tease 
him. 

“Thou drinkest more than a big man 
though thou hast had a comfortable, easy 
day,” he said. But Columbin wiped the 
warm white milk from his lips, pointed to 
the hut and replied, “I have labored hard 


50 The First Domestic Animals 

enough. I have worked against sun, moon 
and rain.’’ 

And now evening had come, Sigisbert sat 
contentedly inside the house. The boys 
remained outside and Ratus related to Co- 
lumbin the story of the capture of the goats, 
saying more than once: ‘‘Yes, indeed, it 
needed courage. There are more goats up 
there, but I am not anxious to catch them.” 
Columbin was sleepy and began to rub his 
eyes. Soon was heard no more the sounds 
of laughing and talking in front of the hut ; 
within slept three happy persons. The goats 
were likewise still, the birds sang no longer 
in the branches. Later the moon rose and 
shone over the quiet, gloomy wood. 


CHAPTER VII 


The Young Hunter 


GAIN it was a lovely summer day. 



Sigisbert had already prayed, and sat 
thoughtfully in front of the hut, leaning his 
head on his left hand. He was thinking 
very seriously. Then he arose and pointed 
with his right hand, saying half aloud: 

“There, there must the chapel stand, and 
there below it the houses of the village. 
Mine eyes are old and will never see all 
that, but Ratus and Columbin are young, 
they will have the joy of beholding it. Now 
see ! Here they come already. Good morn- 
ing. Have you both slept well 

“Yes, and thou?"’ answered the pair with 
one voice. 

“Yes. Now quick to the streamlet. Fresh 


51 


52 


The Young Hunter 


water in the morning is wholesome ; it ban- 
ishes sleep and makes the blood run swiftly 
in the veins.” 

“And makes one hungry, as well,” an- 
swered Ratus, mischievously. Then both 
rushed down to the water, and soon return- 
ing stood beside their dear father, Sigisbert. 

“Well, what shall we do to-day?” he 
asked. “Are you tired of being with me ?” 

“No, no,” came quickly from the lips of 
Columbin. “We will stay with thee always, 
always.” And Ratus cried, “We will capture 
more goats; it would be a fine thing if we 
had two hundred. Last night I dreamed that 
I had caught three big ones.” 

Sigisbert and Columbin laughed, because 
Ratus was always thinking of goats. Sigis- 
bert replied that they had enough for a 
while with three and that it was time for 
Ratus to milk. He hastened to do so; Co- 
lumbin drank more than Ratus and a great 
deal more than Sigisbert. The good father 
was sparing of the milk, that the boys might 


The Young Hunter 5^ 

have enough to keep them healthy and 
strong. After the meal was finished, Sigis- 
bert helped Ratus fasten the goat to 
another tree, as it had eaten all the grass 
where it was. That task was soon done. 

Then Sigisbert took the ax in his hand 
and blows were soon heard resounding 
through the wood. He had hewn a long 
thick bough from a tree, and seating him- 
self on the door-sill he said, “This is some- 
thing for my Ratus.’' The boys watched his 
movements intently. What was he going to 
do? He loosened his knife from its chain, 
and began to peal the leaves and bark from 
the bough. He pointed the thickest end ; the 
other, about four times as long as his own 
hand, he left round, as it was. In this round 
portion the good workman made a little 
groove, smooth as glass, just wide enough 
for one to lay his finger. But it was not 
yet ready. Sigisbert’s knife had a strong 
nail in the handle. With the nail he soon 
made two holes, one through the thick part 


54 


The Young Hunter 


of the wood through the groove — Columbin 
could stick his little finger in it — and an- 
other, at the other end of the bough, cross- 
wise — Ratus could put his thumb into this. 

“What is that going to be 1” asked Ratus, 
full of curiosity. 

“That is a cross-bow for Ratus,” an- 
swered Sigisbert. “Now I still need a stout 
cord. Go Ratus, and fetch me some hairs 
from the goat, about twice as long as my 
arm. But do not let him get away.” Ratus 
went and did as he was bidden, and came 
back singing, “That is my cross-bow, ho-ho, 
my cross-bow !” 

Meanwhile Sigisbert had taken another 
but thinner piece of wood, which he fitted 
into the largest hole. Ratus stood ready 
with the rope. Sigisbert bound it fast on 
both ends and thus strung the bow. Crack, 
crack ! The wood was not strong enough, it 
broke. A second piece was better. “That 
is a stick like thine !” cried Columbin. 
Sigisbert did not answer. He cut a piece 


The Young Hunter 


55 


of wood, the length of his hand, and fitted 
it snugly into the groove. Then he made 
another incision where the little hole was. 
He strung the bow, and the cord was in- 
serted in the space that had been cut out. 
Then he cut another little piece of wood 
for the smaller hole that could be pushed 
up and down, moving the cord with it. 

^^See now. Are thine eyes as quick as my 
arrow?” asked Sigisbert. He lifted the 
cross-bow in the air, pressing the bit of 
wood with his finger. It loosened the cord 
from the groove, and then with a whiz 
and a buzz the shaft flew over the highest 
tree. ‘‘Hei, hei, hallo!” shouted Ratus, as 
swiftly returning the arrow lodged in the 
ground at their feet. 

“Now, Ratus’ cross-bow is ready,” said 
Sigisbert. “Try it, Ratus, and see what 
kind of a shot thou art. Thou hast a good 
eye and a steady arm. That ought to en- 
sure a good shot, and a good huntsman.” 

The words had scarcely passed the old 


56 


The Young Hunter 


man's lips before Ratus stepped forward, 
the arrow in his hand. He took the bow 
and strung it. It was not easy to handle. 
But Ratus who had hewn logs in the build- 
ing of the hut knew also how to bend a 
bough. He aimed at the trunk of a tree. 
He was not unhandy with the cross-bow — 
but it was the first time he had used it. It 
hummed and whirred, and the arrow flew. 
“Missed. Missed !" cried Columbin, and ran 
quickly to pick it up. 

“I have hit it ! I have hit it !” exclaimed 
Ratus, and pointed to the arrow sticking 
in the white bark of the tree. Then Colum- 
bin ran to Sigisbert and cried merrily, “He 
has hit it!" 

Never in his life had Ratus known a 
greater joy than he experienced in this, his 
first successful shot. Sigisbert made five 
more arrows, and said to Ratus, “Now go 
into the forest a little while, but take care 
where thou wanderest and beware of wild 
beasts. And come back soon. Thou wilt 


The Young Hunter 


57 


find Columbin and me down by the brook.’’ 

Full of delight, Ratus took his bow and 
arrow and disappeared into the wood. Sigis- 
bert and Columbin went hand in hand to 
the stream. And as they walked they heard 
Ratus shouting joyfully from afar. 


CHAPTER VIII 

The Young Fisherman 

H OW lovely it was near the brook ! On 
either bank stood fir-trees and 
bushes; a real home for the birds. They 
sang so loud and clear one seeming to out- 
vie the other! A water-ouzel hopped from 
stone to stone, and went back without soil- 
ing its feathers. And high in the air swept a 
hawk; it seemed to be shrieking, “Fly, 
fly!’’ Sigisbert and Columbin were stand- 
ing on this beautiful spot, looking at 
the infant Rhine, which at this place 
flowed calmly along. It was a deep 
stream now, and the water was of a dark 
green color. 

“There thou wilt find animals — fishes!” 
said Sigisbert. “Columbin, thou has good 
58 


The Young Fisherman 59 

eyes, dost thou see no fish at the bottom of 
the stream?” Columbin looked so intently 
into the water that it made him dizzy. But 
he saw nothing and glancing up laughingly 
at Sigisbert he said, “There may be fish 
down in the water, but my arm is too short 
to reach them.” 

“We shall make thy arm longer,” replied 
Sigisbert, as he began to cut off a straight, 
slender branch. On the smaller end he fast- 
ened a cord, which he had taken from the 
pocket of his black gown. Columbin said 
in surprise, “Thou hast everything in thy 
gown !” And Sigisbert answered, “Oh, not 
much, only what it was necessary to bring. 
I did not dare to come with empty hands 
into a land entirely unknown to me.” Then 
Sigisbert with his useful knift, cut a hooked 
piece from a smaller bough, and fastened 
it to the cord. And to the upper part of 
the hook he tied a stone. 

Columbin wondered what strange thing 
Sigisbert had fashioned. When he heard 


60 The Young Fisherman 

that it was an angle to catch fish, he shook 
his head. He did not think any fish would 
be so foolish as to fasten itself to the hook. 
Sigisbert laughed and said, “Columbin, go 
and find me a big worm in the earth, and 
kill it, so that I may fasten it to the end of 
this hook.” But Columbin shook his head 
again and said, ‘That I can not do. Father 
Sigisbert. I dare not kill a poor worm ; tell 
Ratus to do it!” How Sigisbert rejoiced 
at the good heart of his dear little Colum- 
bin I “Good I” he cried. “We will wait 
until Ratus comes. Yonder is an open space 
carpeted with delicate moss. Let us sit 
there, and I will tell thee something,” and 
with these words Sigisbert led his little 
expectant pupil to the soft, inviting 
spot. 

They seated themselves on the thick moss. 
Sigisbert began : “Dost thou not remember 
over there in the wood by the great fir-tree 
when thou didst first see me and thought, 
There is a wild man Y I am not a wild man. 


The Young Fisherman 61 

only a stranger, whose home is far, far from . 
here.” 

“But some day, I will climb that high, 
high mountain yonder and then perhaps I 
may see thy home,” replied the child. 

“Oh, no, it lies a thousand times farther 
away than thine eyes can see,” answered 
Sigisbert. “It is a beautiful and fertile land. 
The house where I lived with my father, 
mother and sister stood near a river which 
is much larger than this one. There were 
fish in abundance. Men, women and chil- 
dren could catch them with rod and angle, 
and even with their hands. Once I was in 
great danger. My foot slipped and in a 
moment I had fallen into the water. The 
waves had already begun to dash me about 
like an atom. But I was young and swift 
in those days as a bird. I reached for the 
branch of a tree on the bank of the river and 
with one spring I was again on land.” 

Columbin listened with open mouth. A 
tear shone in his blue eyes. He wanted to 


62 


The Young Fisherman 


hear it all over again, and Sigisbert was 
obliged to tell him the story two or three 
times. 

“Hello, there!’' What a clear, joyous 
shout ! That was Ratus. Columbin shouted 
in reply. Soon Ratus appeared, dripping 
with perspiration. Over his shoulder hung 
his cross-bow, and in his right hand was a 
large dead bird. Its breast was still bleed- 
ing. 

“See what I have shot 1” cried Ratus, his 
voice trembling with joy. “It was on the 
top of a tree and had a little bird fast in its 
beak. I aimed, and fr-r-r-r, I hit! The 
creature fell over all the branches and 
leaves to the ground, it broke its wing — but 
to hit is to hit — it was dead very soon. 
There it is!” 

“Thou hast aimed well, Ratus !” said 
Sigisbert, praising the young sportsman. 
Columbin stood in amazement, gazing now 
at the bird, now at the young hunter. On 
his part Ratus laughed jubilantly, crying, 


The Young Fisherman 


63 


‘‘What do you think of my work? Take the 
bird in your hand and feel how heavy 
it isr 

Meanwhile Sigisbert had cut a little piece 
of flesh from the dead bird. He fastened it 
to the fishing-hook, and calling Columbin 
said to him, “Columbin, thou art small, and 
not strong. With thy little arm thou canst 
not string a bow. But thou canst catch fish. 
Here take thy rod and dip the line in the 
water!” Columbin obeyed; seated himself 
upon the bank and did as he was told. But 
there were no fish on the hook, no matter 
how often he drew it up. And that he did 
more than twenty times. Finally he became 
impatient. But Sigisbert said to him, “Re- 
main still, until the hook grows heavy.” 
Another while he waited. Then he cried, 
“Now, now, it feels heavy ! But I dare not 
lift the hook. I am afraid of the animals.” 
Sigisbert hastened to his assistance. One 
pull, and soon a fine fish lay upon the grassy 
bank. It was a magnificent trout. It wig- 


64 The Young Fisherman 

gled, opened its mouth, and soon lay quiet 
and lifeless. 

Sigisbert was as rejoiced at the good 
luck of the boys as they were themselves. 
They went back to the hut. Ratus carried 
the bow and hawk, Columbin the angle and 
trout. Columbin was no longer afraid of 
the fish and said, ‘‘To-morrow I will catch 
three more!” 


CHAPTER IX 
The Kitchen 

TOW lay the cross-bow and the fishing- 
* ^ rod near the hut in the shade,” said 
Sigisbert. “Just so. The hawk and the fish 
you must take into the house. Then come, 
for I have something to show you.” 

The boys followed him as quickly as 
they could, and stood before him. He had 
seated himself on a large stone. “We have 
built a house,” said he, “but we have for- 
gotten the kitchen. Whoever wants a good 
table must also have a kitchen and a fire- 
place. Now we must build the kitchen. 
Over there by the bank of the stream are 
fine flat stones. Fetch some!” No sooner 
had the old man spoken than the boys 
sprang forward. In a few moments they 
65 


66 


The Kitchen 


were back again, each with a heavy, flat 
stone in his arms. 

Sigisbert selected the thickest and laid 
the other beside it. The light footed stone- 
bearers went back and forth, bringing more 
flat rocks. ‘‘Now we have enough,” said 
Sigisbert. “Carry this into the house. Yon- 
der in the corner of our little house is 
the best place. Behind the door we can 
keep our wood, and we shall have a fine 
kitchen.” The little artisans helped their 
master. Columbin came to grief once or 
twice by catching his fingers between two 
great stones, and though he cried out, he 
did not shed any tears; he did not want 
to hinder the building of the kitchen, and 
the pain was soon over. 

“In time I hope to have easier and better 
employment for those little fingers. Co- 
lumbin,” said Sigisbert. 

The largest stone was laid on the ground ; 
behind it and on both sides were placed two 
other stones. The spaces between them 


The Kitchen 


67 


were filled with earth and smaller stones. 
Sigisbert knew well how to build a fireplace. 
How hard it would be otherwise to keep 
fire in his house. 

Yes, fire and flame. But whence must 
it come ? "‘Have you ever seen fire ?” asked 
Sigisbert. ‘'I know, I know,” cried Colum- 
bin. ^‘It thunders, and strikes a tree, and 
then we go quickly and get the fire.” Sigis- 
bert replied, smilingly, “Look up at the 
sky and thou wilt see that we cannot wait 
until the thunder sets fire to a tree for us. 
In that case we could not cook and eat the 
fish. Come children we will go and get 
some fire.” 

Close to an old dead pine tree Sigisbert 
paused and cried, “Halt!” The branches 
were withered, there was not a single green 
one on the whole tree. Sigisbert bent down 
a bough. It cracked and fell to the ground, 
now another, and they turned back home, 
Ratus dragging the branches, while Colum- 
bin asked ruefully, “But where is the fire?” 


68 


The Kitchen 


“Wait, wait, there is fire in these withered 
boughs,'^ answered Sigisbert. But the boy 
shook his little head. Sigisbert called the 
child to him, and broke one of the boughs, 
but Columbin still shook his head sadly, “I 
see no fire,^' said he. “This branch has no 
fire in it.^^ 

Sigisbert did not reply, but took two 
pieces of the withered branch. Then he 
pressed one against the wall of the hut and 
rubbed it quickly and skilfully with the 
other. 

It took a long time. “A spark! ho ho, 
a spark!’’ Columbin had seen one. Now 
another, and another, more and more. The 
boy gazed in astonishment. Sigisbert 
rubbed harder, one branch was burning, 
now the other. “Quick, throw some old 
dry wood on the hearth.” Soon a great, 
beautiful fire was burning in the wide fire- 
place. Ratus and Columbin were beside 
themselves with joy. They watched the 
fire, with its glittering sparks, and their 


The Kitchen 


69 


faces were red, lit up by the flame. But 
what a smoke it made! The tears sprang 
into Columbines blue eyes. Sigisbert told 
him to go out in the air for a while. Ratus 
did not spare the wood. The smoke rose 
through the crevices in the roof and as- 
cended into the air. Columbin rushed into 
the hut crying, “Fire, fire But the sparks 
could not penetrate the wooden walls. 
Sigisbert laid a flat thin stone on the glow- 
ing coals, and after cleaning it placed the 
fish upon it. “My, what a good smell!” 
cried Columbin, and Ratus said, “Sigis- 
bert, I will stay by the fire, and mind the 
fish. The fire is not good for thine eyes!” 

In a short time the fish, nicely browned, 
lay on the table, which was only a broad 
flat stone. But how good the pieces tasted, 
that Sigisbert cut with his knife. Sigis- 
bert also ate a little. Then he sat meditat- 
ing. He was thinking of the time when 
on the lake of Genesareth the apostles had 
caught and cooked a fish for their divine 


70 


The Kitchen 


Master. Ratus and Columbin ate on and 
on. After they had finished, Ratus began 
to throw more wood on the fire. Sigis- 
belt forbade him and said, “Thou must 
fear the fire.’’ Both boys then promised 
him that they would not play with it. 

The day had departed, and evening was 
come. It was very still in the wood; even 
the goats were silent. In the hut also it 
was still. Columbin only was restless. He 
had a frightful dream. Once he sprang 
up and cried aloud, “Fire, fire, the roof is 
burning and the hut!” God be praised, 
Columbin, it was only a dream. 


CHAPTER X 

Sunday in the Forest 

I T was a lovely morning. The birds had 
already flown from the roof of the 
little hut, waking the sleepers with their joy- 
ous morning song. But Sigisbert was up 
early, as usual. He sat in front of his house 
and prayed. He knew it was Sunday, the 
Lord's day. Within the hut the two boys 
sat on a bench. The elder had already taken 
his cross-bow in his hands, and was string- 
ing it as he said, “Yesterday I had no luck. 
I shot only a hawk, that no one can eat. 
To-day I shall have better success." 

Sigisbert wished to be for a time alone. 
Near the hut he felt restless. He went 
into the wood and presently came to a 
little stream. What a beautiful spot it was! 
71 


72 


Sunday in the Forest 


The forest brook, flowers blooming every- 
where, the swaying branches full of birds, 
the blue heavens without a single cloud. 
In the distance the snowy peaks of the 
mountains glistened in the sun like flam- 
ing candles on a beautiful altar. There 
could Sigisbert pray from the depths of 
his heart. 

Sunday in the deep woods was not like 
Sunday in the cloister, where Sigisbert 
formerly had his home. In the forest there 
were no pealing bells, in the forest were 
no pious canticles, in the forest were no 
people gathered together. Sigisbert lifted 
his eyes and sighed. ‘^To-day is Sunday 
in the convent. Ah ! I am no longer in the 
cloister, I am far, far away from my breth- 
ren. And I am farther still from my be- 
loved home, from my dear, green Ireland.’’ 
Then he knelt down by a large rock, and 
prayed a long time. 

Meanwhile Ratus had plucked the feath- 
ers from his hawk, and milked the goat. 


Sunday in the Forest 


73 


It had become somewhat tamer and gave 
a bucketful of milk. The two young 
goats gambolled hither and thither like 
merry boys at play. 

Columbin went with his rod to the brook 
and caught a fine trout. He did not know 
it was Sunday. Otherwise he would have 
caught it the evening before. 

Columbin came back to the hut carry- 
ing the heavy fish in his hand. Sigisbert 
had also returned. All three drank of the 
sweet milk. Columbin wanted to broil the 
fish, but he was told to lay it on the table 
and keep it for dinner. Such was the 
wish of Father Sigisbert, and the boys 
obeyed him without a murmur. 

Then Sigisbert took the boys outside to 
a neighboring hill. A fir-tree with broad 
branches stood upon it. A lovely spot! 
Sigisbert sat down on a mossy stone and 
the boys seated themselves on the grassy 
earth at his feet. Then Sigisbert said, 
“My dear children ! See the sun is abroad 


74 


Sunday in the Forest 


in the blue sky. Who has given us this 
light and heat? Who suspends it in the 
heavens? Last night the beautiful stars 
were shining. We could not count them. 
Who kindled their light? And look about 
you! How many beautiful flowers there 
are! Who has made them so numerous, 
so brilliant and so beautiful? Columbin, 
pluck yonder flower! Couldst thou make 
such a flower? No, thou couldst not.” 

Columbin shook his head and asked, 
“Canst thou, Sigisbert, make a flower like 
that? Perhaps thou canst.” And he was 
disappointed when Sigisbert answered, 
“Oh, indeed, I can not. A thousand per- 
sons together could not make a single leaf 
like this. But who has made the sun, 
moon and stars?” 

Columbin’s eyes lit up as he answered, 
“I have never thought about who made 
the sun, moon and stars, the mountains and 
these flowers. When I was a very little 
boy these things were already made.” 


Sunday in the Forest 75 

Sigisbert spoke to them a long time, tell- 
ing him how large were the land and sea. 
Ratus and Columbin listened to him with 
wondering eyes. At last he stood up and 
asked, ‘‘Who made all these things? The 
good God. We cannot see Him; but we 
see the things He has made. Oh, how 
powerful and good He must be! To Him 
belong the heavens, and the earth belongs 
to Him. He is the Father of all men and 
we must obey Him and love Him.’’ 

And Sigisbert prayed with folded hands. 
“Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed 
be Thy name!’ Columbin, canst thou say 
it?” 

Then Columbin clasped his hands, looked 
up to the beautiful blue sky and repeated, 
“Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed 
be Thy name!” 

And now it was noon. As on Sunday 
the people passed from the church to their 
homes, so went Sigisbert, Ratus and Colum- 
bin back to the hut. They had worshiped 


76 


Sunday in the Forest 


God in the open air. Ratus made the fire 
to cook the fish. No one knew better how 
to work well and quickly than Ratus. But 
Columbin had understood and reflected 
more on the words and teaching of Sigis- 
bert, than his larger comrade. The broiled 
fish made a delicious meal. Afterwards 
Ratus tried his bow and arrow. It went 
well — he had a keen eye, and his arm did 
not tremble. But he had no chance of try- 
ing his arrow against beast or bird. Sigis- 
bert had said to the little huntsman, ‘‘To- 
day thou must not go hunting. This is 
Sunday, the Lord’s day.” 


CHAPTER XI 


In Autumn 


HE days were growing shorter. The 



flowers withered; the grass turned 
yellow, the pine-needles lay scattered on the 
ground. One September day a flock of 
swallows alighted on the roof of the hut. 
They remained in the neighborhood until 
next morning. The mountains put on their 
white caps and the swallows flew in a long 
straight line over the hills to the land of the 
South. 

Many clouds and many thunder-storms 
gathered above the lonely hut in the forest. 
In these days the inmates were almost al- 
ways at home, Sigisbert and his dear little 
boys. It would have broken good old Sigis- 
bert^s heart if they had left him. They 
were his greatest joy on earth. 


77 


78 


In Autumn 


But why did they always remain with 
him? Why did they not return to their 
home? They had none — neither house nor 
roof to cover them, no hand to offer them 
food, no friendly glance to meet their own 
save his. They so loved to stay with 
Father Sigisbert, that the longer they wei e 
with him the better they loved him. Sigis- 
bert would have taken the last piece of 
bread from his mouth to give it to the 
children, and he could tell them such beau- 
tiful things of their Father in heaven who 
was so good. 

One Sunday morning Sigisbert went into 
the forest with Ratus and Columbin, to the 
banks of a beautiful little brooklet. There 
he baptized them, for they had been well 
prepared by his instructions and had done 
all things as he had bidden them. Colum- 
bin, especially, felt wonderfully happy; he 
could never forget the wonderful Sunday, 
and had long conversations with Sigisbert; 
much to say and many questions to ask. 


In Autumn 


79 


There came a rainy autumn day. Gray 
clouds gathered above the mountains. The 
Rhine and the forest brook were full of 
water. The three inmates of the little hut 
sat by the fire and spoke to one another 
somewhat as follows: Said Sigisbert, ‘Tf 
people live in this part of the country why 
do they never come near us?’’ 

Replied Ratus, “Oh, they may come yet. 
Far below in the valley there are numbers 
of people. Down there the valley is 
broader. Let us go some time and explore 
it.” 

“And leave our hut?” answered Sigis- 
bert. “No, no, here our village must be 
situated. We have built the first house. 
People will come to us, and then this forest 
will become a beautiful country. What 
kind of men live down there, Ratus?” 

“Many of them are very good, and have 
finer houses than ours,” said Columbin. 
“But they do not know of the good Father 
who is in heaven. Some of them are wicked 


80 


In Autumn 


and half savage. Oh, I would not like to 
make them angry. They meet together at 
night in the wood, but they do not pray as 
we pray. They quarrel with each other, 
and dead men are often seen lying in the 
forest.” 

Said Ratus, often wonder why none 
of them have ever come to our hut, that 
they have not found our hiding-place.” 

Sigisbert was sad and reflected deeply. 

The heavens were blue once more. All 
three left the hut, each one to his labor. 
Ratus took his bow and repaired to the 
forest, Columbin took his rod and went 
fishing. 

Sigisbert on his part, was not idle. He 
was making a small spade out of wood to 
use around the house. When he had fin- 
ished it, he began to dig in the earth. Large 
drops of sweat rolled down his face. He 
had upturned a considerable piece of 
ground when Columbin appeared, bringing 
three fine trout. 


In Autumn 


81 


Soon Ratus returned also. And how 
joyful he was! He carried a roe on both 
shoulders. It was a beautiful brown ani- 
mal, not very large, but a splendid prize, 
and in the middle of its breast was a gap- 
ing wound. The young hunter cried out, 
“Look, look, I have shot it through the 
heart 1’^ Sigisbert rejoiced at the game, 
and praised the hunter. “That is some- 
thing, now, Ratus,’’ he said. “Thou art 
a hunter. I will now show thee how to 
skin the roe and also how to cut it up. 
Here take my knife. It is dainty food. 
And the skin we shall hang to dry under 
the roof; it will make a good winter gar- 
ment for thee.” 

They labored long until the fish, the meat, 
and the deer-skin were prepared as they 
should be. Then something unusual befell, 
and little Columbin was filled with curiosity 
and joy. Sigisbert took from a beam under 
the roof a small bag, that the boys had 
never before seen. In the sack was a 


82 


In Autumn 


species of grayish-yellow corn which Sigis- 
bert had brought with him over the moun- 
tain. Columbin gazed at him with wide 
eyes and wondered what was going to hap- 
pen. Sigisbert looked at him and said, 
“There is not much of it. I am too old 
to carry a great deal. I brought this little 
bit of corn on these old shoulders under 
my black gown. Gladly would I it had 
been more, for your sakes. But now come 
with me to the front of the house.’^ 

The three went out, Sigisbert took a 
handful of corn from the sack, stepped 
slowly here and there among the brown 
furrows, and scattered the corn in the loose 
earth. Columbin counted; there were fif- 
teen hands ful. But neither Columbin nor 
Ratus could comprehend what Sigisbert 
was doing. He now took a long branch 
and drew it over the furrows as he went 
along. Soon all the corn was covered, 
and Sigisbert had planted his little field, 
the first field in the forest. And now he 


In Autumn 


83 


had time to explain what he had been doing 
to his bewildered little friends. And Col- 
umbin cried out, full of joy, as he clapped 
his hands together. ‘"Oh, if the spring 
were only here! I will see then whether 
the corn will come out of the ground.” 

“It can be seen already in the autumn,” 
answered Sigisbert, “Thou wilt not have 
to wait till spring!” 

“But then it will have to go back into 
the earth again,” said Ratus, “or the win- 
ter will be too cold for it.” 

“No, no, the snow is a warm cloak,” said 
Sigisbert to the incredulous Ratus. 

And now came evening, and the night. 
The next morning Ratus had work to do 
with the ax. He made a fence around the 
field. But was that enough? The goats 
could not graze there any more, when the 
green grass should come again. But the 
sparrows flew up and down, picking the 
grayish-yellow corn. The saucy thieves! 
Columbin was greatly discomfited by the 


84 


In Autumn 


little robber-folk, and had all he could do 
to drive them away. But Ratus came to 
the rescue. He covered the plot with fir- 
branches. Soon one and then another shoot 
appeared above the ground where the 
grains had not been deeply planted. 


CHAPTER XII 

A Sorrowful Night 

S EPTEMBER came to an end; the last 
day of the month was dark and 
gloomy. It was as sultry as in summer, 
black clouds covered the heavens. It 
was like night, without the stars. Darker, 
darker, it grew, over mountain and 
valley. Sigisbert, Ratus and Columbin 
sat in the hut ; a fire burned on the 
hearth. Sigisbert was telling the boys the 
story of the storm on the lake of Genesar- 
eth when the apostles were frightened, and 
how, at the command of Jesus, the wind 
and waves sank to rest. While he was 
speaking heavy rain-drops began to fall on 
the roof. The thunder roared, and light- 
ning flashed through the crevices of the 
85 


86 


A Sorrowful Night 


hut. Columbin trembled with fear, lest the 
lightning might set fire to the little house. 
But Father Sigisbert stood up and prayed 
on that gloomy evening as follows: 

"‘We pray Thee, O God, protect our dwell- 
ing, and drive far away the persecution 
of the demons. Make Thy holy angels to 
dwell herein, and preserve us in peace. 
And Thy benediction be upon us forever !” 

But what was that? The voice of a 
man? Or was it the cry of the goats? 
Nay, they were under shelter. In the last 
few days Ratus had made them a little 
stable not far from the hut. 

Again a cry. Columbian peeped through 
the opening in the wall of the hut, and 
said softly, ‘‘Now I know what it is. That 
is a man. God knows what he wants! 
‘Our Father, Who art in heaven.’ ” 

Ratus was more courageous. He went 
out to the front of the hut. How the light- 
ning flashed, how crashed the thunder ! And 
the darkness grew deeper. The rain rushed 


A Sorrowful Night 


87 


down through the fir-trees. Then came a 
flash longer and more vivid. All around 
it was as bright as noonday. Ratus peered 
through the entrance of the hut crying, 
“Quick, quick, come.” Sigisbert and Col- 
umbin ran to his side; their eyes striving 
to pierce the gloomy night. Sigisbert said 
to Columbin, “Stay thou in the hut! Fear 
not, the good angel is with thee. Ratus 
take thy bow and arrow! I will bring my 
ax and a burning brand. Danger is prob- 
ably near; now let us go forth, in God^s 
name !” 

Quickly and fearlessly Sigisbert and Ra- 
tus went in the direction from which the 
cries had come. Sigisbert carried the ax 
and the torch, his companion had the bow 
across his shoulder. Directly in front of 
them were two men with long beards and 
thick clubs in their hands. Oh, those wild 
eyes! Ratus had already seen them. A 
third man lay stretched on the ground. He 
rolled his eyes and groaned. One of the 


88 


A Sorrowful Night 


robbers held him at the throat, the other 
pressed down the knees of the poor unfor- 
tunate. They did not see Sigisbert and 
Ratus. Suddenly the old man stepped for- 
ward, swung the ax and waved the flashing 
brand backward and forward, saying with 
a loud voice, “Stop, murderers ! Stop, 
murderers !” Both men sprang up. The man 
in the long black robe, the gleaming ax, 
the powerful voice; all these things had 
alarmed the robbers. They were pale with 
fear. 

Once more Sigisbert cried, “Away ye 
murderers, or ye shall die!” Ratus came 
nearer. He pointed his arrow and ex- 
claimed, “Be off, assassins, or I will shoot 
you in the eyes. Off, or your lives shall 
pay the forfeit!” 

Meanwhile the poor wounded man had 
somewhat revived. The robbers fled and 
disappeared in the forest. The lightning 
quivered, the thunder pealed, the rain fell 
heavily. Ratus would have sent an arrow 


A Sorrowful Night 


89 


after the men, but Sigisbert forbade him. 

The poor man on the ground had many 
wounds, some of which were deep. With 
a great deal of trouble Sigisbert and Ratus 
removed him to the hut. Columbin stood 
by the fire, praying aloud. When he saw 
the wounds of the prostrate man, tears be- 
gan to flow from his eyes. Ratus went 
quickly and brought water. Willingly or 
unwillingly, the goat was made to furnish 
some milk at this unusual hour, and the 
warm drink was very welcome to the poor 
wounded man who thanked them heartily. 
But Sigisbert warned him not to speak. 
The poor man sank again to the floor and 
soon slept, but he had no rest in his slum- 
ber. He tossed about crying, “Help ! help !” 
He had fearful dreams. Columbin came 
nearer, washed his wounds and laid a soft, 
cool cloth on the burning forehead of the 
stranger. After a long, long time, morning 
dawned. The birds sang joyfully above the 
roof of the hut. They knew naught of the 
sorrowful night that had just passed. 


CHAPTER XIII 


Preparing for Winter 


HE wounded man now made a fourth 



* in the little family that dwelt in the 
hut. Four had at least a temporary refuge 
under the little roof — what joy! Peace 
reigned in the tiny house. The morning 
after the eventful night, Sigisbert had said 
to the children, “We must do good to all, es- 
pecially the poor and unfortunate. What we 
do to them, we do to God himself.’^ Colum- 
bin had a very kind heart. He drew fresh 
water, got fresh milk, and washed the 
wounds of the suffering man, who was 
deeply grateful*. But Columbin would re- 
ply, “Do not thank me. Our Father in 
heaven will count it for me twofold.” 
Tears often glistened in the man’s eyes. 


90 


Preparing for Winter 


91 


His wounds healed one by one ; he became 
stronger and occasionally went outside. 
After a few moments, Sigisbert would say 
to him, “When you are quite well you can 
go farther.” Gradually his painful wounds 
were healed. Nowhere in the world had 
he found such kindness as in this hut in 
the forest. He had formerly been a ped- 
ler, and had carried his wares over the 
mountains. But his unlucky adventure had 
given him a distaste for that business. On 
long journeys one is in great danger from 
wicked men. 

The month of October began. It was 
the finest autumn weather. The sky was 
clear and cloudless. Ratus had taken ad- 
vantage of the fine days and had shot three 
roes. The meat and skins had been made 
ready for use in the long, long winter. 

One evening, Ratus made a new bow. 
That night his sleep was restless. Early 
in the morning he was in front of the hut, 
running uneasily up and down, and gazing 


92 


Preparing for Winter 


at the mountains. Sigisbert sat on a stone 
before the house; Columbin and the man 
came out of the hut also. Ratus went to 
them and said, 

"‘Father Sigisbert, I want to go to-day, 
very badly.*’ 

Sigisbert looked at him intently and 
asked, “Wilt thou then forsake us, Ratus ?” 

“No, no, not forever,” replied the boy. 
“But to-day I am anxious to go— to find 
a chamois. Yesterday I saw a trail. Oh, 
I beg that thou wilt let me go !” While he 
spoke thus, Columbin shook his head and 
said, “He has the mountains and the cham- 
ois on the brain. Isn’t he too young to go 
chamois-hunting?” Sigisbert hesitated. 
But the stranger measured the young agile 
Ratus from head to foot with his eye and 
said, “He does not fear hardship. Per- 
haps he is too eager. But these arrows are 
too light for chamois. It is easier to kill 
bears than chamois.” 

Ratus looked beseechingly at Sigisbert, 


Preparing for Winter 


93 


and from him to the mountains. But he 
could not utter a word now of the wish 
that was in his heart. 

Sigisbert knew his Ratus and laying one 
hand on the boy’s shoulder, he said, 

“Good, thou mayst go. But promise me 
that thou wilt not knowingly court danger. 
Throw not thy life away for a chamois. 
On the road pray to thy guardian angel. 
Go then — in God’s name!” 

Ratus did not move; one little wish was 
in his heart, one little word upon his tongue. 

“Now, Ratus, what is it?” asked Sigis- 
bert. 

“These arrows — well — ^they cannot bring 
down any chamois,” murmured Ratus. “I 
ought to have an iron arrow — I knew that.” 

“Now, out with the rest,” cried Sigis- 
bert. 

“The iron — from thy long staff,” mur- 
mured Ratus. 

Sigisbert and the stranger could not help 
smiling ; Columbin stood in surprise. 


94 


Preparing for Winter 


“The iron point of my long staff thou 
shalt have,” said Sigisbert. “I shall need 
it no longer. I shall journey no more 
across the mountains.” 

That was the answer of the good Father 
Sigisbert. He took the ax, struck off the 
point of the staff and gave it to the young 
huntsman with these words: “Go thou in 
God’s name,” and Ratus departed. They 
heard his shouts from afar. Sigisbert re- 
mained alone talking with the stranger. He 
had much to say, and a great deal to ask. 
He sent the good little Columbin down to 
the brook with the goats. 

It was hard work for Columbin. The 
old goat he led by a rope. It was always 
restless ; it had not forgotten the free, wild 
life of the mountains, but a good herdboy 
was Columbin; there was not another as 
happy and contented in the whole land 
of Rhoetia. He led the goats to the best 
feeding-place. The flowers were already 
dead, and the grass fast turning yellow. 


Preparing for Winter 


95 


He fastened the goats to a tree. He knew 
that in winter time the grass was covered 
with snow. Therefore with skilful hands 
he plucked a quantity and bound it into 
bundles. During the last week he had 
gathered nearly a hundred bundles of grass 
and put them in the little stable near the 
hut against the hard winter days. 

“That is enough for to-day,” said Colum- 
bin at last, and seating himself he began to 
recite aloud the story of the shepherds of 
Bethlehem. Then he repeated as Sigisbert 
had taught him, “Glory to God on high, 
and peace on earth to men of good will!” 
Why should not Columbin be happy? He 
had never done any evil. After a while 
he grew sleepy. He lay down on the grass 
and slept and dreamed — of the angels and 
shepherds of Bethlehem. 

Ratus had a more strenuous day. He 
had no time for slumber. How did it fare 
with him on the chamois hunt? He had 
not forgotten to repeat the little prayer. 


96 Preparing for Winter 

But, as Columbin had said, he had the 
mountains and the chamois on the brain. 
But the arrow ! It was not sharp enough ; 
so the wise little hunter sought in the 
neighboring streamlet a hard round stone. 
He rubbed the iron point upon this, until 
it was bright and keen. Then he cried, 
“To-day this arrow shall be red with the 
blood of a chamois.” And as he journeyed 
he said to himself, “Am I not a wicked 
Ratus? But I will not molest the beauti- 
ful animals in the mountains. I will gather 
nuts for them. That is right, Sigisbert 
said so. And I will not shoot the mother of 
the kid on the way. Now I must go farther 
and farther. In this beautiful weather the 
chamois wanders higher, and higher.” 

Without pause or rest Ratus mounted 
upward and ever upward. Ha! there on 
a rock stood a chamois, keeping guard. 
There were others all about him, some 
standing, some lying down. Ratus crept 
on hands and knees through a stony pas- 


Preparing for Winter 


97 


ture-valley, holding on to the rocks, bleed- 
ing, but always coming nearer. “My bow 
will reach so far!” he said at last, and 
kneeling behind a stone drew it on his prey. 
“Fly, poor beautiful chamois, fly!” 

Too late! the arrow with the sharp iron 
point whizzed through the air and into the 
breast of the chamois that had been keeping 
watch. The poor dear animal gave a shrill 
cry, “Pf¥ — pff,” made one spring and fell 
headlong. The others scampered off to 
their retreat. Ratus sprang from his am- 
bush. “Hit, hit!” he cried joyfully. From 
the brown breast of the stricken chamois 
blood was flowing on the gray stones. The 
animal looked at the hunter with its great 
pleading eyes, lifted itself once on its front 
paws, sank to earth again, and died. Ratus 
drew the arrow from the breast of the dead 
chamois, a torrent of blood followed it. 
The boy could not restrain his joy at the 
success of his enterprise ; his shouts echoed 
again and again through the rocky defiles. 


98 


Preparing for Winter 


But how to get home ? How could Ratus 
drag the heavy chamois down the mountain 
to the hut. No fear! He was strong and 
joy lightened his labor. Carefully he drew 
the chamois over the stony ground. The 
beautiful skin must not be torn. But the 
load was too heavy. He pulled some 
branches from a neighboring tree, and laid 
the chamois upon them. And so he began 
to make his way to the valley. Soon he 
realized that he must use some other means 
of carrying the chamois. He succeeded in 
putting it on his shoulders, but they were 
not made of iron. He rested and shouted 
for help. Then with joy he perceived the 
stranger approaching. Sigisbert had sent 
him out to meet the hunter. The man 
cried out in astonishment, “Thou art indeed 
a hunter!” and lifted the chamois on his 
own broad shoulders. Ratus walked beside 
him, not a little proud of his success. Soon 
they came to the hut. Sigisbert had never 
seen a chamois, and could not help admir- 


Preparing for Winter 


99 


ing the wonderful animal from the high 
mountains. And now Columbin appeared 
with his little flock. He could hardly fasten 
his charge in the stable, and put his bundles 
of grass with the rest, so astonished was 
he at the sight of the beautiful dead cham- 
ois. 

Now came the labor of skinning the 
beast, and dividing the meat in suitable 
pieces, as well as hanging it in the proper 
places to dry for the winter. While they 
were working Ratus entertained them with 
the story of his day’s hunting, and Colum- 
bin listened with delight. 

By the time they had finished the stars 
were shining above the dark wood. Soon 
the four inmates of the hut lay fast asleep. 
What glorious dreams must have passed 
through the brain of the happy huntsman 
— Ratus ! 


U9FC. 


CHAPTER XIV 

The Need of Bread 

IT was a beautiful morning in October. 
* Ratus and Columbin were still sleeping 
like logs, but Sigisbert had waked the stran- 
ger early, and they had gone together into 
the forest. 

Then they went through the wood to- 
wards the valley. It had been a cold night, 
and frost lay on the grass. Sigisbert shiv- 
ered; the tips of his fingers were blue and 
now and again he clapped his hands to- 
gether to warm them. But he joyfully en- 
dured both heat and cold for the love of 
God. After a while they came to a little 
hill. Sigisbert surveyed the landscape ; 
forest, everywhere forest! He sat down 
on the trunk of a tree and said to his com- 
100 


The Need of Bread 


101 


panion, “How lovely would it not be in 
this place if one could here and there see 
a village, or an inn. These sunny slopes 
would then present an entirely different as- 
pect. How would I instruct the people in 
the little hamlets, as one cultivates a field, 
or makes a tree to bear fruit. How joy- 
fully Would I gather the children around 
me, to teach them and make them happy. 
But mine eyes are growing old. Before 
these things come to pass, I shall be in my 
grave.” So saying, he leaned his head upon 
his cold hand, and a tear fell upon the 
folds of his black robe. “Weep not, good 
Father Sigisbert !” said the man. Sigis- 
bert rose to his feet and said, “Wilt thou 
help me? Then perhaps I may see a little 
village there, before I die.” 

The stranger said nothing, but gave the 
old man his right hand, and Sigisbert un- 
derstood his meaning. They began to re- 
trace their steps. The man told what he 
knew of the people of the country; they 


102 


The Need of Bread 


might not all be as good as Ratus and Col- 
umbin, but they were industrious folk. 
Away yonder, where the Rhine broadened 
into a real river, were villages; it might 
be a good thing if Sigisbert were to go 
down and visit the people. But Sigisbert 
smiled and said, “No, I cannot do that. 
I will not build my house and my little vil- 
lage where other houses already are. There, 
yonder in the woodland landscape stands 
my little hut. The others must come to 
me and build their dwellings close to mine.’* 

With conversation such as this they 
found themselves again at the door of the 
hut. 

Ratus had already milked the goats and 
the milk was on the table. Columbin sat 
near his little flock and sang. As they took 
their morning meal Columbin said to Sigis- 
bert, “Father Sigisbert, we have prayed so 
often, *Give us this day our daily bread,* 
I do not know any more how the last mor- 
sel of bread tasted, it is so long since we 


The Need of Bread 


103 


ate it. Tell us, Father Sigisbert, when our 
heavenly Father will send us bread?” 

“My child,” answered Sigisbert, “God, 
who feeds the ravens and the sparrows, 
will also take care of that. But we must 
labor and earn our bread by the sweat of 
our brows.” 

“But when shall we have bread from 
our field?” asked Ratus. 

“In a year we shall be eating bread from 
our field,” answered Sigisbert. “Come 
now, let us sit awhile in front of the hut. 
Come, the autumn sun will warm us a 
little. I want to talk to you.” 

All four went out and sat near the hut 
— it was a little friendly gathering. Sigis- 
bert said, “Already winter looks down upon 
us from the mountains. Columbin, dost 
thou not see the snow? The winter will 
last long, while we shall stay shut in here. 
Columbin, hast thou noticed how the ants 
in summer gather corn for the winter? 
They are an example to us.” 


104 


The Need of Bread 


''We have meat and milk,” said Ratus. 

"To eat meat only is not healthy. Col- 
umbin especially needs bread. And the 
milk will give out also; we cannot expect 
it the whole year through. We must have 
corn, we must have ” 

At these words the stranger stood up and 
said sorrowfully, "That is true. And 
grieved am I to have by my presence here 
placed you still more in need. If you say 
so, I will leave you. It were ” 

"No more, no more!” interrupted Sigis- 
bert, while Ratus and Columbin cried, "No, 
thou must not go.” 

Touched, the man again sat down, and 
passed his hand over his eyes. "You are 
too good to me,” he said. "But far over 
there beyond the southern mountains there 
is a beautiful fruitful land. There smile 
lovely corn-fields — oh — were they but 
here!” 

"Cheer up!” said Sigisbert. "Corn we 
must have. Who will fetch it ?” The words 


The Need of Bread 105 

had but passed his lips when Ratus sprang 
up, exclaiming, “I will. Let me go, Father 
Sigisbert.” 

Columbin smiled, ^‘Thou wishest to do 
everything, Ratus !” he said. “But who will 
give thee corn, and thou wouldst not steal 
itr 

But Sigisbert looked at the stranger and 
asked : 

“Wilt thou go with Ratus?” 

“Yes, I will gladly go with Ratus,” he 
replied. “But how shall we pay for the 
corn ?” 

Father Sigisbert arose, went into the hut 
and soon returned, carrying a slender chain 
in his hand. My, how it sparkled in the 
sun! Columbin’s eyes grew big, but Ratus 
asked immediately, “Where didst thou get 
that chain, Father Sigisbert? What beau- 
tiful iron that is! May I take it in my 
hand? Ha! it is quite heavy.” 

Sigisbert replied, “The chain is made of 
gold. My sister gave it to me, when I was 


106 


The Need of Bread 


leaving my home. In the monastery I gave 
the chain to the Abbot. He returned it 
to me when I left the cloister to come here 
to you. The little gold cross on the end 
of the chain was given me by my Abbot; 
I must take care of that. But with the 
chain we can conduct our business. My 
sister, who had a warm kind heart, would 
be glad to know that we could use it in that 
way — ^to relieve our wants. I believe that 
with a single link one may purchase a small 
sack of corn.” 

Columbin had fixed his eyes upon the 
beautiful shining crucifix, and he said, “It 
was on a cross that the dear God was 
crucified and died for us.” 

Sigisbert then said to Ratus, “Thou must 
bind the chain around thy neck and conceal 
it under thy clothing. And do not lose it; 
nor show it to any one upon the way! A 
robber would no sooner cast eyes upon thy 
treasure than he would attack thee.” 

“As I was attacked,” said the stranger. 


The Need of Bread 


107 


The preparations of the travelers were 
soon completed. Ratus took the cross-bow, 
the man carried the ax. Ratus was de- 
lighted and said to Columbin, “If we meet 
a robber or a wild beast on the way, they 
will have to reckon with me, Columbin.” 

Sigisbert gave the travelers some advice 
and directions, clasped their hands at part- 
ing, and wished them a safe return. They 
departed. As they disappeared in the for- 
est, Columbin’s voice could be heard call- 
ing, “A good journey, a good journey.” 


CHAPTER XV 

What Sigisbert and Columbin Did 

‘\Y/HEN will our two traders return?’^ 
asked Columbin of Sigisbert the 
following morning. 

“They can be here in eight days. The 
time will seem long to thee, Columbin, 
without Ratus. But if we are working it 
will pass quickly. I am old and feeble; 
thou art young and hast not the strongest 
arm. But thou and I together can accom- 
plish something. When the corn is ready 
we must have an oven to bake our bread.” 
Then Sigisbert took a piece of wood, meas- 
ured it on the floor and said, “So large 
must our oven be!” Columbin put his 
finger in his mouth and replied, “I shall 
be glad to do it, but I understand nothing 
about it.” 


108 


What Sigisbert and Columbin Did 109 

Carrying stones was the first step in this 
labor. Fortunately there were some not far 
away. But they had no hammer. How- 
ever, the two stone masons knew how to 
remedy this. A harder stone must be the 
hammer. The stones were loosened with a 
wedge made of wood. When the sun went 
down there was a great heap of stones, large 
and small, on the spot where they were 
to build the oven. It did not matter much 
that Columbin had bruised his little fin- 
gers ; he did not mind it. Early next morn- 
ing, Columbin was on the ground. He had 
forgotten that they were without mortar 
to put the stones together for the oven. 
He went in search of a marshy place; near 
a little brook Sigisbert found a vein of 
the best kind of clay. But they had no 
shovel. From a piece of wood Sigisbert 
fashioned a small one ; that was better than 
nothing. He sent Columbin back to the hut 
to fetch a piece of deer-skin. When he 
returned Sigisbert had already dug up a 


110 What Sigisbert and Columbin Did 

quantity of clay and said to him. “Colum- 
bin, I will see how much clay thou canst 
carry to the house in this skin. Mean- 
while I shall begin the walls of the oven.'^ 
Joyfully Columbin set himself to his task; 
great drops of sweat rolling from his face 
on the clay as he worked. 

Sigisbert began the oven. He laid the 
largest stones underneath, filling the spaces 
between with smaller stones and clay. 
When the walls were two hands high, with 
Columbin’s help Sigisbert laid a large flat 
stone upon them. Columbin asked, “Is the 
oven ready now?” The little fellow was 
so tired that he would have been rejoiced 
to hear that the work was completed. He 
felt his courage fail him, when he learned 
that it would occupy still another day. 
Sigisbert’s small assistant slept wearily and 
soundly that night, and until the next morn- 
ing was far advanced. 

Again both laborers were busy at their 
work. But Columbin did not help much in 


What Sigisbert and Columbin Did 111 

the beginning. He was full of surprises 
and asked many questions. Sigisbert made 
an arch, or vault above the flat stone, with 
branches, a kind of mold for what was to 
follow. Above it he placed another arch 
of stone, lining it with clay, which Colum-' 
bin had to take many steps to carry to good 
Father Sigisbert. By evening the oven was 
ready; in the back was a small opening. 
But now Columbin became alarmed, 
“Father Sigisbert!” he cried. “I will bet 
my head that when you try to pull the 
boughs away the whole thing will fall to 
pieces !” 

After a couple of days, Sigisbert thought 
the time had arrived to take out the wood. 
Not a single stone fell from the vault. 
“Columbin!” he said, “thou wilt not be 
much good without thy head. Thou wilt 
need it still. Winter is coming, and thou 
must begin to learn. Thou must be the 
first pupil in my little school.” 

Columbin looked smilingly up at his mas - 


112 What Sigisbert and Columbin Did 

ter, his shining eyes were like two blue 
flowers. Sigisbert next made a fire in the 
oven to dry the clay. Columbin stood near- 
ly all day by the fire, watching it. What 
heat came from the oven, and what a great 
smoke! But the happy boy said to him- 
self, “Soon our daily bread will come out 
of there, when the two travelers return 
with corn. God grant that they are on the 
way, and that they may bring some!’^ 


CHAPTER XVI 

The Two Merchants 

R ATUS and the good man traveled 
quickly after their departure from 
the hut. They heard behind them the voice 
of Columbin calling, “A good journey, a 
good journey,” and the little house soon 
vanished from their sight. They passed 
through the valley towards the south ; 
behind it was a snow-capped mountain. 
The man knew his way extremely well; he 
was familiar with every path and turn. The 
road was so full of stones, and so narrow 
that they could walk only in single file. 
Ratus looked over the rocky wall. Far 
below he heard the noise of a forest stream. 
Right and left, gray rocks and green woods ; 
above, the blue sky ; naught besides. 

113 


114 


The Two Merchants 


The way did not seem long to the trav- 
elers. The man knew all about it; the 
road was ten times older than Sigisbert. 
The people who lived on the other side of 
the mountain had made it. They were a 
strong and warlike race. The land of 
Rhoetia had been conquered by these peo- 
ple. The best of the inhabitants were dead, 
or gone away. So related the stranger at 
length and with great expression. Then 
he said, '‘That is what my grandfather told 
me; and from his grandfather he also 
learned it.” 

Conversing thus, the travelers reached 
the foot of the highest mountain. There 
they rested for a while. Now they were 
far, far from the hut in the forest. And 
distant still was the first house on the other 
side of the mountain. 

Fresh water and a morsel of the meat 
they had brought with them stengthened 
heart and foot. Lustily fared they onward 
higher and ever higher; now they were at 


The Two Merchants 


115 


the top, another land lay before them ! The 
trees had leaves instead of needles, as in 
their own home. It was warmer here also 
than it had been for many weeks in the 
country they had left behind. And there 
were fields — but empty fields. And there 
was a village. There were large houses, 
much larger than the hut of Father Sigis- 
bert and Ratus said, “After a while we can 
build a house like those. If only Columbin 
could see it!’^ 

“We have gone far enough for to-day,” 
said the stranger. “We have come to a 
stopping-place, let us stay here.” Ratus re- 
plied that he was not tired, that he would 
like to continue the journey. He was filled 
with curiosity. “To-morrow, to-morrow 
we may go farther,” rejoined the man, and 
soon they were knocking on the door of 
the nearest house. The farmer opened it 
and invited the strangers to come in. As 
the man and his family had already had 
their repast, they brought the travelers 


116 


The Two Merchants 


bread and milk. As he tasted it, Ratus said, 
“Milk and bread! Columbin would like 
that. Who knows how long it must be until 
he will have a bite of bread?” 

Afterwards the farmer led the tired trav- 
elers to the stables, and let them sleep on 
the hay. 

The next morning they bought three 
sacks of corn and a small bag of salt. Ra- 
tus cheerfully took a golden link from the 
chain and paid with it for what they had 
purchased. The stranger had other things 
to buy, which Sigisbert had directed him 
to bring back for their use. And Ratus 
had many things to see in the beautiful un- 
known country; 

On the third day they prepared to return 
with their purchases. Both had their 
hands full. The man carried a saw, two 
axes, two hammers — and something else 
that made Ratus smile — a kettle. Ratus 
had a tree, but it was a very small one, 
with branches and leaves. In the other 


The Two Merchants 


117 


hand he carried something sweet, two great 
branches full of grapes. 

“Now, let us go home again,’’ said the 
man, “before the snow comes.” And what 
a joyous if arduous journey it was! For 
two golden links the farmer had engaged 
to send the grain by his servant across the 
highest point of the mountains. When he 
left them, they were alone in the wilder- 
ness. Soon the stars began to peep out 
in the darkening heavens. Ratus gathered 
some moss, laid it between the two sacks, 
and sleep soon fell upon the tired wander- 
ers. Were they not afraid to sleep there? 
Had they no fear of robbers, wolves or 
bears? Ratus awakened once and reached 
for his bow, drawing it closer to his side. 
But all was peaceful; there was no sound 
but the sighing of the wind in the tops 
of the fir-trees. 

Morning broke, but nowhere could the 
sun be seen rising behind the mountains. 
The travelers could not sleep longer ; it 


118 


The Two Merchants 


was too cold. The stranger reflected, won- 
dering how they could carry their sacks of 
corn and their hardware home in one jour- 
ney. He thought that snow would be likely 
to fall before night. But a gray-bearded 
man, a man who had traveled far and near 
well knows how to conquer difficulties. 

“Come, Ratus! let us make a wagon,” 
he said, and Ratus hurried eagerly to his 
side. A young fir-tree was speedily felled, 
two runners quickly fashioned with the 
saw, a tongue and axle followed, made 
from two other young trees, and behold! 
a convenient wagon. Some rope and a few 
nails that the older man had with him were 
of great assistance in putting it together. If 
it would only go, now that it was made. 
Ratus was sure that everything would be 
all right. He shouted for joy. They load- 
ed it with the stuff they had bought. Now, 
now for home! It moved, yes, but very, 
very slowly. With hard work it rattled 
over the stony path. That morning Col- 


The Two Merchants 


119 


iimbin had prayed, “Give us to-day our 
daily bread.” But he must still have pa- 
tience. Yet another night were the pil- 
grims to rest under the stars of heaven 
instead of the roof of their beloved hut. 
Ratus felt homesick. In the early morning 
he cried out, “Will it be clear to-day?” 

“Be at rest, do not worry, Ratus!” an- 
swered his companion. “We shall be at 
home this day before sunset.” 

It was afternoon, Sigisbert and Colum- 
bin sat on a little bank near the oven. 
They were talking of the travelers. Then 
Columbin heard a “Pff,” and a shout. 
Ah! that must be Ratus. Both hastened 
to welcome the wanderers. That was a 
joyful homecoming! They had a feast in 
the hut. There were questions and anec- 
dotes without end. Then began their work, 
which kept them busy until dark. Ratus 
had hidden the grapes, so that they might 
be a joyful surprise to Sigisbert and Ratus 
by the hearth-fire in the evening. First 


120 


The Two Merchants 


they carried the sacks of corn into the 
hut. Columbin felt all over them with his 
slender fingers to see if there was any 
bread inside. Patience! The little tree 
had to be planted before dark. Ratus at 
once put a fence around it, that the goats 
might not eat of the branches. 

Darkness had fallen, it was time for the 
evening meal. The four inmates of the hut 
sat beside the fire. The two elder men 
listened with amusement to the conversa- 
tion of the younger. Ratus told of the 
beautiful land they had just visited, of their 
purchases of corn, of the wagon and the 
toilsome way. Columbin related how he 
and Father Sigisbert had built the oven. 
Sigisbert began to fall asleep. Then Ratus 
went out hurriedly. He came back soon, 
with uplifted arms, holding in either hand 
a branch with a bunch of grapes, as he 
cried. “These are for Sigisbert and Col- 
umbin.” Oh, what delight for all, espe- 
cially for Ratus I In a short time they went 


The Two Merchants 


121 


to rest. Sigisbert prayed a long time. 
This evening he had much for which to 
thank the good God. Columbin could not 
sleep. It was quite late in the night when 
he began to sing slowly and softly, “Glory 
to God in the highest and peace on earth 
to men of good will!” 


CHAPTER XVII 

The Coming of Winter 

“QHALL we have a little bread to-day?” 

^ was the first thing Columbin asked 
next morning. 

“We shall have it by evening,” an- 
wered Sigisbert, consolingly. It was nec- 
essary first to make a mill. But that was 
easy: the materials were near the brook. 
The whole morning two stone-cutters were 
busy near the hut. They liked to work 
there that the blows of the hammer might 
not scatter the splinters and scraps all 
around. They were the good man and 
Ratus. The man was making a round hole 
in a great stone. Ratus hammered and 
hammered until he had shaped another 
stone so that it would fit in the round hole 
which the good man had made. Sigisbert 
122 


The Coming of Winter 123 

was well satisfied with his workmen. He 
took a handful of corn and laid it in the 
round basin which had been hollowed in 
the stone. There he laid the other stone 
upon it and said, “Now my Ratus. Thou 
art our miller, turn the stone around three 
times.’^ It was not hard to do. The dry 
corn crackled. It went more and more 
easily. Sigisbert lifted up the round stone, 
and Columbin’s eyes grew larger and larger, 
as he saw the beautiful white meal. 

But now it was his task to separate the 
flour from the husk, with his delicate fin- 
gers. That required patience. Meanwhile 
Ratus continued his labor, and by noon they 
had ready a quantity of flour. In the hut 
a kettle full of water stood over the fire, 
the water already bubbling. The meal was 
shaken into the water, with a little salt. 
That made the dough. Unfortunately they 
had no yeast. Patience, Patience ! Columbin 
must be contented with his bread, made for 
the first time as best it could be done. The 


124 The Coming of Winter 

oven was hot and hissing. Sigisbert put 
the loaves on the shovel and laid them 
within it. Columbin had counted them: 
there were twelve. He stood in front of 
the oven. '‘God grant that the bread may 
be a success/’ said he to Sigisbert. 

What a good smell ! The bread was 
baked. The first piece was given to Col- 
umbin: at last he had his "daily bread.” 
Every one now had a taste of the fresh 
bread. Then said Sigisbert, "Let us wait 
a while. Very fresh bread is not whole- 
some. It will taste better in the evening.” 

The autumn days were past. The flesh 
of the chamois that Ratus had shot, was 
salted for winter. The snow gathered deep 
in the valley. The wild goats came nearer 
and Ratus longed to catch a big one. Col- 
umbin still had the care of the others. He 
also had to cover his hay with fir-branches. 
He was sparing with the food; the hay- 
stack was not very large. One morning 
he found a kid in the little stable, a beauti- 


The Coming of Winter 


125 


ful little animal; white, with yellow spots. 
Joyfully he took it into the hut to show 
everybody his new treasure. 

November ! It seemed as though summer 
had come again, so lovely were the days! 
Ratus and the good man were able to work 
outside all day long. What were they build- 
ing? They were making two sniall huts 
near Sigisbert’s. One was for Ratus and 
Columbin, the other for the good man. 

And then came a happy festival day. 
The good man had been instructed by Sigis- 
bert. As our holy Lord had taught the 
apostles to say the “Our Father,” so Sigis- 
bert showed the good man how to pray. 
One Sunday morning Sigisbert baptized 
him, giving him the name of Bonus, which 
means “Good.” He deserved this name, 
because he had a good heart. He wished 
to remain near Sigisbert, as his servant un- 
til death. Sigisbert looked around cheer- 
fully and said, “Yes, stay with us. We 
have now a little village.” 


CHAPTER XVIII 

The Little Hamlet of Desertina 

I T grew colder and colder. The sun 
shone daily above the tops of the moun- 
tains for a time only, and again disap- 
peared. The days grew shorter. It was 
Columbines task to take care of the fire. 
He was fond of putting his hands on 
the warm hearth. The days were shorter, 
and the nights so long that to the indus- 
trious Ratus they seemed like years. Cold 
winds swept through the valley. One morn- 
ing the hut was covered with snow. It 
kept on snowing all day and all night. 
Ratus had to sweep the snow from the 
wooden roofs of the three huts with a 
shovel. The beams cracked and Ratus put 
a basin underneath the split, so that Col- 


126 


The Little Hamlet of Desertina 127 

umbin might have some water for his goats 
to drink. 

Was is not very tiresome in the little 
village in the forest? Oh, no, they always 
had something to do. Only to lazy people 
does time seem long. Sigisbert had plenty 
to occupy him also; he worked and prayed, 
and instructed his three companions. He 
told them of the things of God, what Jesus 
had done, and what he had taught, that 
men might follow the counsels of the Heav- 
enly Father. All were attentive, especially 
Columbin. He understood everything that 
Sigisbert taught more quickly than Bonus 
or Ratus, and also remembered longer. 
Besides, Columbin had to learn to read in 
a little book belonging to Sigisbert. This 
was somewhat slow. The letters in the 
book were very mysterious. But the good 
Sigisbert never lost patience. Columbin 
was courageous and diligent, and every day 
it went better and better. In a few weeks 
he could read words, following the letters 


128 The Little Hamlet of Desertina 

with his finger. Ratus would tease his little 
comrade now and then saying, “Thou wilt 
soon be as learned as Father Sigisbert, and 
then I will be thy servant.” 

But soon Columbin must learn something 
else, that was harder; he must learn to 
write. There was a great heap of fir-tree 
bark between the three huts. Sigisbert se- 
lected the smoothest piece, took a sharp 
pointed stone, and wrote on the bark the 
word “Columbin.” Columbin knew how to 
read it, and by and by was able to write it. 
Then Sigisbert wrote, “Ratus, Bonus, Sigis- 
bert, Desertina, Green Island.” That was 
hard work for the little writer, Columbin ! 

One evening when they all sat around 
the fire in Sigisbert’s hut, Columbin held a 
large piece of bark in his hand. On it was 
written his first letter, and this was the 
contents. 

“Greeting to good Father Sigisbert ! Thy 
pupil, Columbin, thanks thee with all his 
heart for the good thou hast done. Colum- 


The Little Hamlet of Desertina 129 

bin promises to be always brave and good.” 
Sigisbert read this letter aloud. Colum- 
bin kept his promise. He studied and learn- 
ed as well as he could. I doubt if there 
has ever been from that time until now so 
good a pupil as Columbin was. 

It was Christmas night. For the first 
time it was celebrated in the Rhoetian val- 
ley. In Sigisbert’s hut a bright fire burned 
upon the hearth. Around it sat the citi- 
zens of the little village of Desertina, still 
only four. But the shepherds that watched 
by night in the fields of Bethlehem were 
also few, and poor. And who could have 
been happier than they? 

Sigisbert prayed with his loved ones and 
told them of Bethlehem, of the holy one of 
God, of the angels and the shepherds. Col- 
umbin began to sing like one of the angelic 
choir. “Glory to God in the highest, and 
peace on earth to men of good will !” They 
were all contented and happy. Bonus said, 
“You all remember that sorrowful night? 


130 The Little Hamlet of Desertina 

It was a blessed night for me. If it had 
not been for that time, I would not now be 
here. I would be wandering about the 
world. Never have I found such peace 
and content as in the little house of good 
Father Sigisbert.” 

Thus passed the festival of Christmas. 
Evening found the three neighbors, Bonus, 
Ratus and Columbin again in the house of 
Father Sigisbert. The fire burned cheer- 
fully on the hearth. Columbin said, 
Father Sigisbert, tell us of something of 
the green island where thou didst live when 
thou were a boy, like I am now.’^ 

Then Sigisbert told them many things 
about his > far-away home, his green island. 
He told them of his Father’s house, his be- 
loved parents and his dear little sister. 
“My good parents have been dead a long 
time,” he said. “Oh, that I might but once 
weep above their graves !” The tears glist- 
ened in his eyes. And Columbin also wiped 
away some tears. Sigisbert rubbed his cold 


The Little Hamlet of Desertma 131 

hands together and said, *‘My green island 
is beautiful, the most beautiful land I have 
seen on earth. But now our little village of 
Desertina is my home.’' He paused. But 
his three neighbors answered, with one 
voice, “Yes, our little village, Desertina, is 
our home.” 

Sigisbert laid a dry branch on the glowing 
coals. The fire burned anew. It threw its 
red light on the venerable countenance of 
dear Father Sigisbert and on that of Col- 
umbin, who rested his arms upon Sigisbert’s 
knee. Then the old man spoke once more. 
“Do you remember?” he asked, “what I 
have said to you about a tiny church with a 
tower and little bells ?” 

“When wilt thou build the church?” 
asked Ratus. 

“I shall never see it!” said Bonus. 

“Why not? We must trust in the good 
God,” said Sigisbert cheerfully. “In an- 
other year we shall celebrate Christmas with 
many others in our little church. On the 


132 The Little Hamlet of Desert ma 

hill above our village is a beautiful spot. 
The white walls of our chapel will be seen 
from afar, and the bells shall resound 
throughout the mountains. And our village 
will grow larger, and many persons will 
dwell with us, contented and happy.’' 

Ratus could no longer conceal his delight. 
He cried aloud, “Aha! the church and our 
village 1” 

But Columbin clasped Sigisbert’s hand 
and said softly, “Father Sigisbert, thou must 
not die for a long time, thou must stay a 
good while with us in our village.” 

Answered Sigisbert, “As God wills ! His 
will be done in heaven and on earth, 
But now go to rest. It is late ; it will soon 
be midnight. The fire will soon be ashes. 
Good night! Good night!” 

The fire died away, and it was still in the 
three huts. In the heavens the stars were 
shining, gazing down upon the happy little 
village in the Rhcetian valley. 


Printed by Benziger Brothers, New York. 


Standard Catholic Books 

PUBLISHED BY 

BENZIGER BROTHERS, 

CINCINNATI: NEW YORK: Chicago: 

343 MAIN ST. 36 & 38 BARCLAY ST. 21 I -213 MADISON ST. 


DOCTRINE, INSTRUCTION, DEVOTION. 


Abandonment. Caussade, S.J. net. o 50 

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Tesniere. net, i 25 

Alphonsus Liguori, Works of St. 22 vols., each, net, i 50 

Anecdotes and Examples Illustrating the Catholic Cate- 
chism. Spirago. net, i 50 

Apostles’ Creed, The. Muller, C.SS.R. net, i 10 

Art of Profiting by Our Faults. Tissot. net, o 50 

Beginnings of Christianity. Shahan. net, 2 00 

Benedicenda: Rules and Ceremonies to be observed in some of 
the Principal Functions of the Roman Pontifical and Ro- 


net. 


net. 


man Ritual. Rev. A. J. Schulte. 

Bible History. 

Bible History, Practical Explanation. Nash. 

Bible, The Holy. 

Book of the Professed. 

VoL. 1 . net, 

VoL. II. VoL. III. Each, net, 

Boys and Girls’ Mission Book. Redemptorist Fathers. 
Bread of Life, The. 30 Complete Communion Books, net. 
Catechism Explained, The. Spirago-Clarke. net. 

Catholic Girls’ Guide. Lasance. net. 


50 
50 
so 

00 

75 
75 
o 40 
o 75 


50 

00 


9 00 


Catholic Belief. Faa di Bruno. Paper, 0.25; 100 copies, 15 00 
Cloth, 0.50; 25 copies, 7 50 

Catholic Ceremonies and Explanation of the Ecclesiastical 
Year. Durand. Paper, 0.30; 25 copies, 4 50 

Cloth, 0.60; 25 copies. 

Catholic Practice at Church and at Home. Klauder. 

Paper, 0.30; 25 copies. 

Cloth, 0.60; 25 copies, 

Catholic Teaching for Children. Winifride Wray. 

Catholic Worship. Rev. R. Brennan, LL.D. 

Paper, 0.20; 100 copies, , 

Cloth, 0.30; 100 copies. 

Ceremonial for Altar Boys. Britt, O.S.B. 

Characteristics of True Devotion. Grou, S.J 


50 

00 

40 


12 00 
18 00 
o 35 
net, o 75 
net. 


Cistercian Order, The. By a Secular Priest. net, 0 60 

Child of Mary. Prayer-Book. o 60 

Christian Doctrine, Spirago’s Method of. Edited by Bishop 
Messraer, net, i 50 


f 


Paper, 0.25; 25 copies, 


75 

00 

so 

75 

00 

10 

75 

SO 

25 

SO 

SO 


Christian Father. Cramer 
Cloth, 0.40; 25 copies, 

Christian Home. McFaul, D.D. o.io; per 100, 

Christian Mother. Cramer. Paper, 0.25; 25 copies. 

Cloth, 0.40; 25 copies. 

Church and Her Enemies. Muller, C.SS.R. net, 

Comedy of English Protestantism. Marshall. net. 

Confession. Paper, 0.05; per 100, net. 

Confession and its Benefits. Girardey. 

Confirmation. Paper, 0.05; per 100, net. 

Communion. Paper, 0.05; per 100, net, 

Consecranda: Rites and Ceremonies observed at the Conse 
cration of Churches, Altars, Altar Stones and Chalices and 
Patens. Rev. A. J. Schulte. net, i 50 

Complete Office of Holy Week. 0.50; cheap edition o 25 
Correct Thing for Catholics. Lelia Hardin Bugg. net, o 75 
Devotion of the Holy Rosary and the Five Scapulars, net, o 75 
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Noldin, S. J. 

net, I 25 

Devotions and Prayers for the Sick-Room. Krebs, C.SS.R. 

net, I 25 

Devotion and Prayers of St. Alphonsus. net, i 25 

Devotions for First Friday. Huguet. _ _ nit, 0 40 

Dignity and Duties of the Priest. Liguori. net, i 50 

Dignity, Authority, Duties of Parents, Ecclesiastical and 
Civil Powers. Muller, C.SS.R. net, i 40 

Divine Grace. Wirth. net, i 60 

Divine Office: Explanations of the Psalms and Canticles. 

Liguori. ^ net, i 50 

Epistles and Gospels. Large Print. net, o 25 

Eucharist and Penance. Muller, C.SS.R. net, i 10 

Eucharistic Christ. Tesniere. net, i 25 

Eucharistic Gems. Coelenbier. net, o 75 

Explanation of Commandments, Illustrated. net, i 00 

Explanation of the Apostles' Creed, Illustrated, net, i 00 

Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism of Christian Doc- 
trine. Kinkead. net, i 00 

Explanation of the Commandments. Muller, C.SS.R. 

net, I itt 

Explanation of the Gospels and of Catholic Worship. Lam- 
bert. Paper, 0.30; 25 copies, 4 50 

Cloth, 0.60; 25 copies, 9 00 

Explanation of the Holy Sacraments, Illustrated, net, i 00 
Explanation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Cochem. 

net, I 25 

Explanation of the Our Father and the Hail Mary. Bren- 
nan. net, o 75 

Explanation of the Prayers and Ceremonies of the Mass, 
Illustrated. Rev. D. I. Lanslots, O.S.B. net, i 25 

Explanation of the Salve Regina. Liguori. net, o 75 

Explanation and Application of Bible History. Edited by 
Rev. John J. Nash, D.D. net, i 60 

Extreme Unction. Paper, o.io; 100 copies, 6 00 

First and Greatest Commandment. Muller, C.SS.R. net, i 40 
First Communicant’s Manual. o 50 

Flowers of the Passion. By Rev. Louis Th. de J 4 sus-Agoni- 
sant. o 50 


2 


Following of Christ. Thomas a Kempis. 

With Reflections, o 50 

Without Reflections^ o 45 

Edition de luxe, 1 25 

Four Last Things, The. Death, Judgment, Heaven. Hell. Med- 
itations. Father M. v. Cochem. Cloth, net, o 75 

Garland of Prayer. With Nuptial Mass. Leather. o 90 

General Confession Made Easy. Konings, C.SS.R. Flexible, 
0.15; 100 copies, 10 00 

General Principles of the Religious Life. Verheyen. 

net, o 30 

Glories of Divine Grace. Scheeben. net, i 60 

Glories of Mary. Liguori. 2 vols. net, 3 00 

Popular ed., i vol., net, i 25 

Glories of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, The. Rev. M. Han- 
shew, S.J. net, i 25 

God the Teacher of Mankind. Muller. 9 vols. Per set, 9 50 

Goffine’s Devout Instructions. 140 Illustrations. Cloth, i 00 

25 copies, 17 5® 

Golden Sands. Little Counsels. 

Third, fourth and fifth series. each, net, 0 50 

Grace and the Sacraments. Muller, C.SS.R. net, i 25 

Great Means of Salvation and Perfection. Liguori. net, i 50 


Cloth, 


Illustrated. 


net, I 25 


0 60 


I 50 
net, I 25 
net, o 50 
net, I 25 
net, o so 
net, I 25 
net, I so 
net, I 25 
net, I so 
net, I 25 


Great Supper of God, The. Coube, S.J. 

Greetings to the Christ-Child. Poenis. 

Guide to Confession and Communion. net, o 50 

Handbook of the Christian Religion. Wilmers, S.J. 

net 

Harmony of the Religious Life. Heuser. 

Help for the Poor Souls in Purgatory. 

Helps to a Spiritual Life. Schneider, S.J. 

Hidden Treasure. By St. Leonard of Port Maurice 
History of the Mass. O’Brien. 

Holy Eucharist. Liguori. 

Holy Mass. Muller, C.SS.R. 

Holy Mass. Liguori. 

How to Comfort the Sick. Krebs, C.SS.R. 

How to Make the Mission. By a Dominican Father. Paper, 
o.io; per 100, 5 00 

Illustrated Prayer-Book for Children. 0.25 

Imitation of Christ. See “ Following of Christ.” 

Imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Bennett-Gladstone. 
Plain Edition, net, o 50 

Edition de luxe, net, i 50 

Imitation of the Sacred Heart. Arnoudt, S.J. net, i 25 

Immaculate Conception, The. Lambing, LL.D. o 35 

Incarnation, Birth, and Infancy of Jesus Christ; or. The 
Mysteries of Faith. Liguori. net, i 50 

Indulgences, A Practical Guide to. Bernad, O.M.I. net, o 75 

In Heaven We Know Our Own. Blot, S.J. net, o 60 

Instructions and Prayers for the Catholic Father. Egger. 

, net, o so 

Instructions and Prayers for the Catholic Mother. Right 
Rev. Dr. A. E^er. net, o 50 

Instructions and Prayers for Catholic Youth. net, o 50 

Instructions for First Communicants. Schmitt. net, o 60 


3 


Instructions on the Commandments of God and the Sacraments 
of the Church. Liguori 
Paper, 0.25; 100 copies, 

Cloth, 0.40; 100 copies, 24 00 

Interior of Jesus and Mary. Grou. 2 vols. net , 2 00 

Introduction to a Devout Life. By St. Francis de Sales. 

Cloth, o 50 

Lessons of the King. By a Religious of The Society of The 
Holy Child Jesus. o ho 

Letters of St. Alphonsus de Liguori. 4 vols., each /ol., 

net, I 50 

Letters of St. Alphonsus Liguori and General Alphabetical 
Index to St. Alphonsus’ Works. net , i 50 

Little Altar Boys’ Manual. o 25 

Little Book of Superiors. “ Golden Sands.” net , o 75 

Little Child of Mary. A Small Prayer-Book. o 35 

100 copies, 17 50 

Little Manual of St. Anthony. Lasance. 

Illustrated, 0 25 

per 100, 18 00 

Little Manual of St. Joseph. Lings. 0 25 

Little Month of May. McMahon. Flexible, net , o 25 

100 copies, 20 00 

Little Month of the Souls in Purgatory. net , o 25 

100 copies, 20 00 

Little Office of the Immaculate Conception. o 05 

per 100, 2 50 

Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints. New, cheap edition, 

net , I 25 

Lives of the Saints. Large Size i 50 

Lover of Souls, The. Short Conferences on the Sapred Heart. 

Rev. Henry Brinkmeyer. net , i 00 

Manual of the Holy Eucharist. Lasance. net , o 75 

Manual of the Holy Family. net , o 60 

Manual of the Holy Name. o 50 

Manual of the Sacred Heart, New. o 5a 

Manual of the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin. O 50 

Manual of St. Anthony, Little. o 25 

Manual of St. Anthony, New, o 60 

Manual of St. Joseph, Little. Lings. o 25 

MarIjE Corolla. Poems by Father Edmund. Cloth, net , i 25 

Mary the Queen. By a Religious of The Society of The Holy 
Child Jesus. o 60 

Mass Devotions and Readings. Lasance. Cloth, net , o 75 

May Devotions, New, Wirth, O.S.B. net , 1 00 

Meditations for all the Days of the Year. Hamon, S.S. 5 
vols., net , 5 00 

Mediatations for Every Day in the Year. Baxter, net , i 50 
Meditations for Every Day in the Year. Vercruysee, 2 


vols.. 

Meditations for Retreats. St. Francis de Sales. 

Meditations on the Four Last Things. Cochem. 
Meditations on the Last Words from the Cross. 


net , 3 50 
Cloth, 
net , o 75 
net , o 75 
Perraud. 


net , o 50 

Meditations on the Life, the Teachings, and the Passion of 
Jesus Christ, Ilg-Clarke. 2 vols., net , 3 50 


4 


Meditations on the Month of Our Lady. Mullaney. net , o 75 
Meditations on the Passion of Our Lord. o 50 

Method of Christian Doctrine, Spirago’s. net , i 50 

Middle Ages, The; Sketches and Fragments. Shanan. 

net , 2 00 

Miscellany. Historical Sketch of the Congregation of the Most 
Holy Redeemer. Liguori. net , i 50 

Mission Book for the Married. Girardey, C.SS.R. o 50 

Mission Book for the Single. Girardey, C.SS.R. o 50 

Mission Book of the Redemptorist Fathers. o 50 

Moments Before the Tabernacle. Russell, S.J. net , o 50 
Month, New, of the Sacred Heart. St. Francis de Sales. 

net , o 25 

Month of May; Meditations on the Blessed Virgin. Debussi, 

S.J. 

Month of the Souls in Purgatory, “ Golden Sands.'’ net , o 25 
Moral Briefs. Stapleton. 

Most Holy Rosary. Meditations. Cramer, D.D. 

My First Communion: Happiest Day of My Life, 

My Little Prayer-Book. Illustrated. 

New May Devotions. Wirth. 

New Month of the Holy Angels. 

New Month of the Sacred Heart. 

New Sunday-School Companion. 

New 'Testament. Cheap Edition. 

32mo, flexible cloth, 

32mo, lambskin, limp, round corners, gilt edges. 

New Testament. Illustrated Edition. 

i6rao. Printed in two colors, with 100 full-page ill 
i6mo, Rutland Roan, limp, solid gold edges. 

New Testament. India Paper Edition. 

American Seal, limp, round corners, gilt edges, 

German Morocco, limp, round corners, gilt edges. 

Best Calf limp, round corners, gold edges, gold 


New Testament. Large Print Edition. 
i2mo, large, 

i2mo, American Seal, linm, gold edges. 

New Testament Studies. Conaty, D.D. lamo. 

Off to Jerusalem. Marie Agnes Benziger. 

Office, Complete, of Holy Week. 

Cheap Edition. Cloth, cut flush. 

On the Road to Rome. By W. Richards. 

Our Favorite Devotions. Lings. 

Our Favorite Novenas. Lings. 

Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano. Dillon, 

Our Monthly Devotions. Lings. 

Our Own Will and How to Detect It in Our Actions. 

John Allen, D.D. 

Paradise on Earth Open to all. Natale, S.J. 

Parish Priest on Duty, The. Heuser. 

Passion, A Few Simple and Business-Like Ways of Devotion 
TO the. Hill, C.P. 0.2s; per 100, 

Passion and Death of Jesus Christ. Liguori. 

Passion Flowers. Poems. Father Edmund. 


net , 0 

50 

net , 0 

25 

net , I 

25 

net , 0 

50 

. Brennan. 

net , 0 

75 

0 

12 

net , I 

00 

net , 0 

25 

net , 0 

25 

0 

25 

net , 0 

IS 

net , 0 

75 

., net , 0 

60 

net , I 

25 

net , 0 go 

net . I 

20 

roll inside. 

net , I 

50 

net , 0 

75 

net , I 

50 

0 

60 

net , 1 

00 

0 

SO 

0 

25 

net , 0 

50 

0 

75 

net , 0 

75 

D.D. 


net , 0 

75 

net , I 

25 

TiONS. Rev. 

net , 0 

75 

net , 0 

50 

net , 0 

60 

p Devotion 

IS 

00 

net , I 

50 

net , 1 

25 


5 


Thoughts and Affections on the Passion for Every Day 
THE Year. Bergamo. 

Pearls from Faber. Brunowe. 

Pearls of Prayer. 

Pepper and Salt, Spiritual. Stang. Paper, 0.30; 


Cloth, 0.60; 25 copies, 

Perfect Religious, The. De la Motte. Cloth, 
Pictorial Lives of the Saints. 8vo, 

Pious Preparation for First Holy Communion. 
Cloth, 


F 

net, 2 5o 
net, Q 50 
o 35 
25 copies, 
4 50 
9 

net, I 
net, 2 
Lasance. 
net, o 


00 

00 

00 


Pocket Manual. A Vest-pocket Prayer-Book, very large 

Popular Instructions on Marriage. Girardey, C.SS.R. 
Paper, 0.25; 25 copies. 

Cloth, 0.40; 25 copies, 

Popular Instructions on Prayer. Girardey, C.SS.R. 

Paper, 0.25; 25 copies, $3 75- Cloth, 0.40; 25 copies. 
Popular Instructions to Parents. Girardey, C.SS.R. 
0.25; 25 copies. 

Cloth, 0.40; 25 copies, 

Prayer-Book for Religious. Lasance. net. 

Preaching. Vol. XV. Liguori. net. 

Preparation for Death. Liguori. net. 

Prodigal Son; or, The Sinner’s Return to God. net. 
Reasonableness of Catholic Ceremonies and Practices. 
Burke. 

Religious State, The. Liguori. ne^ 

Rosary, The, the Crown of Mary. By a Dominican 


75 , 
type. 

0 25 

3 75 
6 00 

6 00 
Paper, 
3 75 
6 

1 


00 

SO 

50 

SO 

00 


35 

SO 


o 

o 

Father, 
o 10 
5 00 
o so 
o 50 


per 100, 

Rosary, The: Scenes and Thoughts. Garesche, S.J. net. 
Rosary, The Most Holy. Meditations. Cramer. net, 

Sacramentals of the Holy Catholic Church. Lambing, D.D. 
Paper, 0.30; 25 copies, 4 50 

Cloth, 0.60; 25 copies, 9 00 

Sacramentals — Prayer, etc. Muller, C.SS.R. net, i 00 

Sacred Heart Book, The. Lasance. net, o 75 

Sacred Heart, Devotion to, for First Friday of Every Month. 

Huguet. net, o 40 

Sacred Heart, New Manual of. o 50 

Sacrifice of the Mass Worthily Celebrated, The. Chaig- 

non, S.J. net, i 50 

Saint Francis of Assissi. By Rev. Leo L. Dubois, S.M. 

net, I 00 

Secret of Sanctity. St. Francis de Sales. net, i 00 

Seraphic Guide, The. By a Franciscan Father. o 60 

Short Conferences on the Little Office of the Immaculate 
Conception. Rainer. net, 0 50 

Short Stories on Christian Doctrine. McMahon, net, i 00 

Short Visits to the Blessed Sacrament. Lasance. o 25 

100, 18 00 

Sick Calls; Chapters on Pastoral Medicine. Mulligan, net, i 00 

Socialism and Christianity. Stang, D.D. net, i 00 

SoDALISTS’ VaDE MeCUM. O 50 

Songs and Sonnets. Maurice Francis Egan. net, i oo 

Spirit of Sacrifice, The. Thurston. net, 2 00 


6 


Spiritual Despondency and Temptations. Michel, S.J. 

net, I 

Spiritual Exercises for a Ten Days’ Retreat. Smetana, 

C.SS.R. net, i oo 

Spiritual Pepper and Salt. Stang. Paper, o.^oj 25 copies, 

4 S'> 

Cloth, 0.60; 25 copies. 9 

St. Anthony, New Manual of. o 

St. Anthony. Keller. net. o 

St. Francis of Assissi,, Social Reformer. 


net, 

Dubois, S.M. 

net. 


25 


00 

60 

75 


net, 

net. 


00 

50 

50 

00 


Stations of the Cross. Illustrated. 

Stories for First Communicants. Keller, D.D. 

Striving after Perfection. Bayma, S.J. 

Sure Way to a Happy Marriage. Taylor. 

Paper, 0.25; 25 copies, 3 75 

Cloth, 0.40; 25 copies. ' 6 00 

Talks with the Little Ones about the Apostles’ Creed. 
By a Religious of The Society of The Holy Child Jesus. 

o 60 

Thoughts and Counsels for the Consideration of Catholic 
Young Men. Doss, S.J. net, i 25 

Thoughts for All Times. Mgr. Vaughan. 

True Politeness. Demore. 

True Spouse of Jesus Christ. Liguori. 2 vols. 

The same, one-vol. edition. 

Two Spiritual Retreats for Sisters. Zollner. 

Veneration of the Blessed Virgin. Rohner, O.S.B. 
Vest-Pocket Gems of Devotion. 

Victories of the Martyrs. Vol. IX. Liguori. 

Visits, Short, to the Blessed Sacrament. Lasance. o 25 
Visits to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. By the Author 
of “ Ave Spirituels.” net, o 50 

Visits to Jesus in the Tabernacle. Lasance. Cloth, net, i 25 
Visits to the Most Holy Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin 
Mary. Liguori. net, o 50 

Vocations Explained. Vincentian Father. o 10 

100 copies, 6 00 

Way of Interior Peace. De Lehen, S.J. net, i 50 

Way of Salvation and Perfection. Meditations, Pious Re- 
flections, Spiritual Treatises. Liguori. ^ net, 1 50 

Way of the Cross. Paper, 0.05; 100 copies, 2 50 

What the Church Teaches. Drury, 

Paper, 0.30; 25 copies, 4 50 

Cloth, 0.60; 25 copies, 9 00 


net, 

net, 

net, 

net, 

net, 

net. 


00 

75 

00 

25 

00 

25 

20 

50 


JUVENILES. 


An Adventure with the Apaches. Ferry o 45 

Armorer of Solingen. Herchenbach. o 45 

As TRUE AS Gold. Mannix. o 45 

Berkleys, The. Wight. o 45 

Bistouri. Melandri. o 45 

Black Lady, and Robin Red Breast. Schmid. o 25 

Blissylvania Post-Office. Taggart. o 45 

Bob o’ Link. Waggaman. o 45 

Boys in the Block. Egan. o 25 


T 


Bunt and Bill. Mulholland. o 45 

Buzzer’s Christmas. Waggaman. o 25 

By Branscome River. Taggart. o 45 

Cake and the Easter Eggs. Schmid. o 25 

Canary Bird. Schmid. o 45 

Carroll Dare. Waggaman. ^ i 25 

Cave by the Beech Fork, The. Spalding, S.J. Cloth, o 85 

The Children of Cupa. Mannix. o 45 

Charlie Chittywick. Bearne, S.J. o 85 

College Boy, A. Anthony Yorke, Cloth. o 85 

Copus, Rev. J. E., S.J. 

Harry Russell. o 85 

Shadows Lifted. o 85 

St. Cuthbert’s. o 85 

Tom Losely: Boy. o 85 

Daughter of Kings, A. Hinkson. i 25 

Dimpling’s Success. Clara Mulholland. o 45 

Double Knot, A, and Other Stories. Waggaman and Others. 

I 25 

Ethelred Preston. Finn, S.J. o 85 

Every-Day Girl, An. Crowley. o 45 

Fatal Diamonds. Donnelly. o 25 

Finn, Rev. F. J., S.J.: 

His First and Last Appearance. Illustrated. i 00 

That Football Game. o 85 

The Best Foot Forward. e 85 

Ethelred Preston. o 85 

Claude Lightfoot. o 85 

Harry Dee. o 85 

Tom Playfair. o 85 

Percy Wynn. o 85 

Mostly Boys. 0 85 

Five O’Clock Stories; or. The Old Tales Told Again. o 75 

Flower of the Flock, The. Egan. o 85 

For the White Rose. Hinkson. o 45 

Fred’s Little Daughter. Smith. o 45 

Godfrey the Hermit. Schmid. o 25 

Golden Lily, The. Hinkson. o 45 

Great Captain, The. Hinkson. o 45 

Haldeman Children, The. Mannix. o 45 

Harry Dee; or, Working It Out. Finn. o 85 

Harry Russell, A Rockland College Boy. Copus, S.J. [Cuth- 
bert]. o 85 

Heir of Dreams, An. O’Malley. o 45 

His First and Last Appearance. Finn. i 00 

Hop Blossoms. Schmid. o 25 

Hostage of War, A. Bonesteel. o 45 

How They Worked Their Way. Egan. o 75 

Inundation, The. Schmid. o 45 

“ Jack.” By a Religious of the Society of the Holy Child 
Jesus. - o 45 

Jack Hildreth Among the Indians. 2 vols. Each, o 85 

Jack Hildreth on the Nile. Taggart. Cloth, o 85 

J ACK O’Lantern. Waggaman. o 45 

UVENILE Round Table. First Series. Stories by the Best 
Writers. i 00 

Juvenile Round Table, Second Series. i 00 


8 


Prose and Verse. 
Holy Child Jesus. 


By a 


2 volumes, each, 


Juvenile Round Table. Third Series. 

Klondike Picnic. Donnelly. 

Lamp of the Sanctuary. Wiseman. 

Legends of the Holy Child Jesus from Many Lands. 

Little Missy. Waggaman. 

Loyal Blue and Royal Scarlet. Taggart. 

Madcap Set at St. Anne’s. Brunowe. 

Mary Tracy’s Fortune. Sadlier 
Master Fridolin. Giehrl. 

Milly Aveling. Smith. Cloth. 

More^ Five O’Clock Stories In 
ligious of the Society of the 
Mostly Boys. Finn. 

Mysterious Doorway. Sadlier. 

Mystery of Hornby Hall. Sadlier. 

My Strange Friend. Finn. 

Nan Nobody. Waggaman. 

Old Charlmont’s Seed-Bed. Smith. 

Old Robber’s Castle. Schmid. 

One Afternoon and Other Stories. Ta^art. 

Our Boys’ and Girls’ Library. 14 vols. Each, 

Overseer of Mahlbourg. Schmid. 

Pancho and Panchita. Mannix. 

Pauline Archer. Sadlier. 

Pickle and Pepper. Dorsey. 

Playwater Plot, The. Waggaman. 

Ridingdale Boys, The. Bearne, S.J. 

Queen’s Page. Hinkson. 

The Race for Copper Island. Spalding, S.J. 

Recruit Tommy Collins. Mary G. Bonesteel. 

Rose Bush. Schmid. 

Round the World. Vol. I. Travels. 

Saint Cuthbert’s. Copus, S.J. 

Sea-Gull’s Rock. Sandeau. 

Senior Lieutenant’s Wager, The. 

Shadows Lifted. Copus, S.J. 

Sheriff of the Beech Fork, The. 

Spalding, S.J. 

Cave by the Beech Fork. 

Sheriff of the Beech Fork, The. 

The Race for Copper Island. 

Strong-Arm of Avalon. Waggaman. 

Summer at Woodville. Sallier. 

Tales and Legends of the Middle Ages. De Cappella. 
Tales and Legends Series. 3 vols. Each, 

Talisman, The. Sadlier. 

Taming of Pclly. Dorsey. 

Three Girls and Especially One. Taggart. 

Three Little Kings. Giehrl. 

Tom’s Luc spot. Waggaman. 

Toorallady. Walsh. 

Trail of the Dragon, The, and Other Stories. By 
Writers. 

Transplanting of Tessie, The. Waggaman. 

Treasure of Nugget Mountain. Taggart. 

Two Little Girls. Mack, 


30 Short Stories. 
Spalding, S.J. 


I 00 
o 85 
o 25 
Lutz. 
75 


45 

85 

45 

45 

25 

85 

Re- 

75 

85 

45 

85 

25 

45 

45 

25 

25 

25 

25 

45 

45 

85 

60 

85 

45 

85 

45 

25 

85 

85 

45 

25 

85 

85 


85 

8S 

85 
85 

45 
75 
75 
60 

85 

45 

25 

45 
45 
Best 

I 25 

o 60 
0 85 
o 45 


9 


Violin Maker, The. Smith. o 45 

Wager of Gerald O’Rourke, The. Finn-Thiele. net , o 35 

Wayward Winnifred. Sadlier. ’ o 85 

Where the Road Led, and Other Stories. Sadlier, and 
Others. i 25 

WiNNETOU, THE Apache Knight. Taggart. 0 85 

Wrongfully Accused. Herchenbach. o 45 

Young Color Guard, The. Bonesteel. o 45 

NOVELS AND STORIES. 

Carroll Dare. Waggaman. 1 25 

Circus Rider’s Daughter, The. F. v. Brackel. i 25 

Connor D’Arcy’s Struggles. Bertholds. i 25 

Corinne’s Vow. Waggaman. i 25 

Dion and the Sibyls. A Classic Novel. Keon. Cloth, i 25 

Dollar Hunt, The. Martin. o 45 

Fabiola. By Cardinal Wiseman. Popular Illustrated Edition, 

0 90 

Fabiola’s Sisters. Clarke. i 25 

Fatal Beacon, The. By F. v. Brackel. i 25 

Hearts of Gold. Edhor. i 25 

Heiress of Cronenstein, The. Countess Hahn-Hahn. i 25 

Her Blind Folly. Holt. i 25 

Her Father’s Daughter. Hinkson. net , i 25 

Idols; or. The Secret of the Rue Chaussee d’Antin. De Navery. 

1 25 

In the Days of King Hal. Taggart. net , i 25 


I 25 
I 00 
I 5 ® 
I 25 
1 25 
I 25 
I 25 
I 25 
I 25 
I 25 
1 25 
I 25 
1 25 
I 25 
I 00 
I 25 
I 00 

Round Table of the Representative American Catholic 
Novelists. i 50 

Round Table of the Representative French Catholic Novel- 
ists. I 50 

Round Table of the Representative German Catholic 
Novelists. Illustrated. i 

Round Table of the Representative Irish and English Cath- 


olic Novelists. i 50 

Ruler of The Kingdom, The. Keon. i 25 

Soggarth Aroon, The. Guinan, C.C. i 25 

That Man’s Daughter. Ross. i 25 

Training of Silas, The. Devine, S.S. i 25 


“ Kind Hearts and Coronets. Harrison. 

Let No Man Put Asunder. Marie. 

Linked Lives. Douglas. 

Marcella Grace. Mulholland. Illustrated Edition. 
Miss Erin. Francis. 

Monk’s Pardon, The. de Navery. 

Mr. Billy Buttons. Lecky. 

Not a Judgment. By Keon. 

Other Miss Lisle, The, Martin. 

Out of Bondage. Holt. 

Outlaw of Camargue, The. de Lamothe. 

Passing Shadows. A Novel. Yorke. 

Pere Monnier’s Ward. A Novel. Lecky, 

Pilkington Heir, The. A Novel. Sadlier. 

Prodigal’s Daughter, The. Begg. 

Red Inn of St. Lyphar, The. By Anna T. Sadlier. 
Romance of a Playwright, de Bornier. 


10 


r 


True Story of Master Gerard, The. Sadlier. 
Unraveling of a Tangle, The. Taggart. 
Vocation of Edward Conway. Egati. 

Way that Led Beyond, The. Harrison. 
Woman of Fortune, A. Reid, 

World Well Lost. Robe-tson. 


I 25 
I 25 
I 25 
I 25 
I 25 
o 75 


LIVES AND HISTORIES. 


Cloth, 
net , I 25 
net , o 35 
net , s 00 
Cloth, 

0 20 

1 00 
o 75 


Autobiography of St. Ignatius Loyola. O’Conor. 

Anglican Ordinations. Semple, S.J. 

Bad Christian, The. Hunolt. 2 vols. 

Bible Stories for Little Children. Paper, o.io. 

Business Guide for Priests, Stang. 

Church History. Businger, 

Christian’s Last End, The. Sermons. Hunolt, S.J. 2 vols. 

net , 5 00 

Christian’s Model, The. Sermons. Hunolt, S.J. 2 vols. 

net , 5 00 

Christian State of Life, The. Sermons. Hunolt, S.J. z 
vols., net , 5 00 

Golden Bells in Convent Towers. Story of Father Samuel 
and Saint Clara. net , i 00 

Historiographia Ecclesiastica quam Historiae seriam Solidam- 
que Operam Navantibus, Accommodavit Guil. Stang, D.D. 

net , I 00 

History of the Catholic Church. Brueck. 2 vols. net , 3 00 

History of the Catholic Church. Shea. net , i 50 

History of the Protestant Reformation in England and 
Ireland. Cobbett. Cloth, net , o 75 

Letters of St. Alphonsus Liguori. Grimm, C.SS.R. 5 vols.» 

Each, net , 1 50 

Life and Life-Work of Mother Theodore Guerin, Foundress 
of the Sisters of Providence at St.-Mary-of-the-Woods, Vigo 

County, Indiana. net , 2 00 

Life of Blessed Virgin. Illustrated. Cochem. net , i 25 

Life of Ven. Mary Crescentia Hoess. Degman, O.S.F. 

net^ 1 25 

Life of Saint Vincent de Paul. Maloy, C.M. 

Paper, o 25 

Cloth, o 35 

Life of Christ. Illustrated. Cochem. net , i 25 

Life of Fr. Francis Poilvache, C.SS.R. Paper, net , o 20 

Life of Most Rev. John Hughes. Brann. net , o 75 

Life of Sister Anne Katherine Emmerich, of the Order of St. 


Augustine. Wegener, O.S.A. 

Life of St. Anthony. Ward, Illustrated. 

Life of St. Catharine of Sienna, Ayme, M.D. 
Little Lives of Saints for Children. Illustrated. 


net , 1 75 
net , o 75 
I 00 

Cloth, 

o 60 
net, I 25 


Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, 

Lourdes — Its Inhabitants, Its Pilgrims, and Its Miracles. 

O^IhitIcc^ 1 00 

Middle Ages, The. Rev, Thos. J. Shahan, S.I.D.J.U.L. 2 00 


zz 


Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano. 

Outlines of Jewish History. Gigot, S.S. 

Outlines of New Testament History. Gigot, S.S. 
Patron Saints for Catholic Youth. Illustrated. 
Pictorial Lives of the Saints. Cloth, 
Reminiscences of Rt. Rev. E. P. Wadhams. 

Sheaf of Golden Years, A. Mary Constance Smith. 

Sheaf of Golden Years, A. Smith. 

St. Anthony, The Saint of the Whole World. 
Story of Jesus. Illustrated. 

Story of the Divine Child. Lings. 

Victories of the Martyrs. Liguori. 

Visit to Europe and the Holy Land. Fairbanks. 


net, o 75 
net, I 50 
net, I 50 
o 60 
net, 2 00 
net, i 00 
net, I 00 
net, i 00 
net, I 00 
net, o 75 
0 60 

0 60 
net, 1 50 

1 SO 


THEOLOGY, LITURGY, SERMONS, SCIENCE, AND 
PHILOSOPHY. 


Abridged Sermons, for All Sundays of the Year. Liguori. 

Grimm, C.SS.R. , net, i 50 

Across Widest America. Rev. A. J. Devinie, S.J. i 50 

Benziger’s Magazine. per year, 2 00 

Blessed Sacrament, Sermons on the. Edited by Lasance. 

net, I 50 

Breve Compendium Theologiae Dogmaticae et Moralis. 

Berthier. net, 2 50 

Cantata Catholica. B. H. F. Hellebusch. net, 2 09 

Ceremonial for Altar Boys. Rev. Matthew Britt, O.S.B. 

net, o 35 

Children of Mary, Sermons for the. Callerio. net, i 50 
Children’s Masses, Sermons for. Frassinetti-Lings. 


Christian Apologetics. Devivier, S.J. 

Christian Philosophy: God. Driscoll. 

Christ in Type and Prophecy. Maas, S.J. 2 vols.. 


net, I 50 
net, 2 00 
net, i 50 
net, 4 00 


Church Treasurer’s Pew-Collection and Receipt Book. 

net, i 00 

Compendium Juris Canonici. Smith. net, 2 00 

Compendium Juris Regularium. Edidit P. Aug. Bachofen, 

net, 2 50 

Compendium Sacrae Liturgiae Juxta Ritum Romanum, 

Wapelhorst. Editio sexta emendatior. net, 2 50 

Compendium Theologiae Dogmaticae et Moralis. Berthier. 

net, 2 50' 

Confessional, The. Right Rev. A. Roeggl, D.D. net, i 00 
Data of Modern Ethics Examined. Rev. John J. Mina, S. J. 


De Philosophia Morali Praelectiones. Russo. net, 2 00 

Diary, Order and Note-Book. 

T ° 75 

Flexible Leather, net, i 25 

Ecclesiastical Dictionary. Rev. John Thein. net, 5 00 

Elements of Ecclesiastical Law. Rev. S. B. Smith, D.D. 
Ecclesiastical Persons. ngt , *2 50 

Ecclesiastical Punishments. net] 2 50 

Ecclesiastical Trials. net 2 50 


Elocution Class. Eleanor O’Grady. net, o 50 

Encyclical Letters of Pope Leo XIII. net, 2 25 

Funeral Sermons. Rev. Aug. Wirth, O.S.B. 2 vols., net, 2 00 
General Introduction to the Study of Holy Scriptures. 

Gigot, S.S. Cloth, net, 2 50 

General Introduction to the Study of Holy Scriptures. 
Abridged Edition. Rev. Francis E._ Gigot, S.S. net, i 50 


God Knowable and Known. Ronayne, S.T 
Good Christian, The. Allen, D.D. 2 vols.. 
History of the Mass. O’Brien. 

Hunolt’s Sermons. 12 vols., 

Hunolt’s Short Sermons. 5 vols.. 

Hymn. Book of Sunday School Companion. 
Introduction to the Study of the Scriptures, 


net, I 50 
net, 5 00 
net, I 25 
net, 25 00 
net, 10 00 
° 35 

Gigot. 

net, I 50 

Introduction to the Study of the Old Testament. Vols. I. 

and 11 . Gigot. net, i 50 

Jesus Living in the Priest. Millet-Byme. net, 2 00 

Last Things, Sermons on the Four. Hunolt. 2 vols. 

net, 5 00 

Lenten Sermons. Edited by Wirth, O.S.B. net, 2 00 

Liber Status Animarum. rocket Edition, net, 0.25; half 

leather, net, 2 00 

Marriage Process in the United States. Smith. net, 2 50 

Moral Principles and Medical Practice, the Basis of Medical 
Jurisprudence. Coppens, S.J. net, i oo 

Medulla Fundamentalis Theologiae Moralis. Auctore Gu- 

lielmo Stang. 

Mores Catholici or Ages of Faith. By Digby. 

Natural Law and Legal Practice. Holaind, S.J. 

New and Old Sermons. Wirth, O.S.B. 8 vols.. 

Outlines of Dogmatic Theology. Hunter, S. J. 


net, I 00 
4 vols. 25 00 
net, 2 00 
net, 16 00 
3 vols., 
net, 4 50 
net, 150 


Outlines of Jewish History. Gigot, S.S. 

Outlines of New Testament History. Gigot. Cloth, 

net, I 50 

Outlines of Sermons for Young Men and Young Women. 

net, 2 00 


Pastoral Theology. Stang, D.D. 

Penance, Sermons on. Hunolt. 2 vols.. 
Penitent Christian, The. Sermons. Hunolt. 


net, I so 
net, 5 00 
2 vols., 

net, 5 00 
net, I 00 


Pew-Rent Receipt Book. 

PiiiLOsoPHiA de Morali. Russo. net, 2 00 

Political and Moral Essays. Rickaby, S.J. net, i 50 

Praxis Synodalis. Manuale Synodi Diocesanae ac Provincialis 
Celebrandae. net, o 75 

Priest in the Pulpit, The. Suelbemann. net, i 50 

Readings and Recitations for Juniors. O’Grady. net, o 50 

Record of Baptisms. 14x10 Inches, 3 Styles. 

Record of Marriages. 14x10 Inches, 3 Styles. 

Registrum Baptismorum. net, 3 50 

Registrum Matrimoniorum. net, 3 50 

Relation of Experimental Psychology to Philosophy. Mgr. 

Mercier. net, 0 35 

Rights of Our Little Ones. Conway, S.J. o.io; per 100, 

7 50 


oo 

25 

50 

50 


Rituale Compendiosum seu Ordo Administrandi quaedam Sacra- 
menta et alia Officia Ecclesiastica Rite Peragendi ex Rituali 
Romano, novissime editio desumptas. ® 9° 

Sanctuary Boys’ Illustrated Manual. McCallen. net, o 50 
Select Recitations for Catholic Schools and Academies. 
Eleanor O’Grady. 

Sermons, Abridged, for Sundays. Liguqn. net, 

Sermons for Children of Mary. Callerio. _ ^ net, 

Sermons for Children’s Masses. Frassinetti-Lings. net. 
Sermons for the Sundays and Chief Festivals of the Eccle- 
siastical Year. Pottgeisser, S.J. 2 vols. net, 2 50 

Sermons from the Latins. Baxter. net, 2 00 

Sermons, Funeral. Wirth. 2 vols. net, 2 00 

Sermons, Hunolt’s. 12 vols. net, 25 00 

Sermons, Hunolt’s Short. 5 vols. net, 10 00 

Sermons, Lenten. Wirth. net, 2 00 

Sermons, New and Old. Wirth. 8 vols. net, 16 00 

Sermons on Devotion to Sacred Heart. Bierbaum. 

net, o 75 

Sermons on Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin and the Saints. 

Hunolt. 2 vols. 5 00 

Sermons on the Blessed Sacrament. Scheurer-Lasance. 

net, I 50 

Sermons on the Rosary. Frings. net, i 00 

Sermons on the Seven Deadly Sins. 2 vols. net, 5 00 

Sermons on Penance. Hunolt. 2 vols. 5 00 

Sermons on the Christian Virtues. Hunolt. 2 vols. 5 00 
Sermons on the Different States of Life. Hunolt. 2 

Hunolt. 2 vols. 


vols. 
5 00 
5 00 
10 00 


Sermons on the Four Last Things. 

Short Sermons. Hunolt. 5 vols. 

Socialism: Its Theoretical Basis and Practical Application. 

Victor Cathrein, S.J. i 50 

Sursum Corda. Hymns. Cloth, 0.25; per 100, 15 00 

SuRSUM Corda, With English and German Text. o 45 

Theory and Practice of the Confessional. Dr. E. Shieler, 
Professor Moral Theology. 3 50 

Synopsis Theologiae Dogmaticae. Tanquerey, S.S. 3 vols. 

net, 5 25 

Synopsis Theologia Moralis et Pastoralis. Tanquerey. 

3 vols. net, s 

Theologia Dogmatica Specialis. Tanquerey. 2 vols. 

net, 3 

Views of Dante. By E. L. Rivard, C.S. V. net, i 

Vade Mecum Sacerdotum. Cloth, net, o 

Morocco, net, o 

What Catholics Have Done for Science. M. S. Brennan. 

net, I 

MISCELLANEOUS. 


25 

50 

25 

25 

50 


A Gentleman. M'. F. Egan, LL.D. 
A Lady. Manners and Social Usages 


net, o 75 

Lelia Hardin Bugg. 

net, o 75 

Bone Rules; or. Skeleton of English Grammar. Tabb, A.M. 
Catholic Home Annual. Stories by Best Writers. o 25 

Correct Thing for Catholics, The. Lelia Hardin Bugg. 

net, o 75 


14 


Guide for Sacristans. ' net, o S5 

How TO Get On. Rev. Bernard Feeney. net, i 00 

Little Folks’ Annual, o.io; per 100, 6 00 

PRAYER-BOOKS. 

Benziger Brothers publish the most complete line of prayer- 
books in this country. Catalogue will be sent free on ap- 
plication. 

SCHOOL BOOKS. 

Benziger Brothers’ school text-books are considered to be 
the finest published. They embrace: New Century Cath- 
olic Readers. Illustrations in Colors. Catholic National 
Readers. Catechisms. History. Grammars. Spellers. 
Elocution. Charts. 


THE BEST STORIES AND ARTICLES 


1000 Illustrations a Year 

BmZIQES’S 

The PopuUr CadhoUc Family Monthly 
RECOMMENDED BY 70 ARCHBISHOPS AND BISHOPS 
Subscription, $2.00 a Year 


What Benziger’s Magazine Gives its Readers : 

Three complete novels of absorbing interest — equal to 
three books selling at $1.25 each. 

Fifty complete stories by the best writers — equal to a 
book of 300 pages selling at $1.25. 

One thousand beautiful illustrations. 

Forty large reproductions of celebrated paintings. 

Twenty articles— equal to a book of 150 pages — on travel 
and adventure ; on the manners, customs and home- 
life of peoples ; on the haunts and habits of animals. 

Twenty articles — equal to a book of 150 pages — on historic 
events, times, places, important industries. 

Twenty articles — equal to a book of 150 pages — on the 
fine arts: celebrated artists and their paintings, 
sculpture, music, etc., and nature studies. 

Twelve pages of games and amusements for in-doors and 
out-of-doors. 

Seventy-two pages of fashions, fads, and fancies, gath- 
ered at home and abroad, helpful hints for home 
workers, household column, cooking recipes, etc. 

“Current Events,” the important happenings over the 
whole world, described with pen and pictures. 

Twelve prize competitions, with valuable prizes. 


















* • 

4 ' 


4 





W '"m 31 1908 H 


^■ry^<rr ■ 

* , * • •u 


-♦If, I'x . X' ‘•' • ' 

&' ’ ';■* ■=■ V,. 

I?% -f’ j 


wan^x^^ 

WBma^ . . .,‘r 

- ■' V'; ' ‘ 



I. J A . I 



V, 

( 






l' S ' 

♦' *A. 7'7 A 




■* • ■ — ' ■ » * > , » “ ‘ \ 

^». • . ••, '^ .^^ • I 

■ > .V* \. ' ,4 J 

•# - ' . ■ ■ . \' 



V • 


^ * 


» r 


f* * ^ 




r^ 


.'rrci. 





wr. ••v‘ »•'•'! ' 

D* 1 ^ • • 4 


• . ' ' \ / 

• '•.,' r ' . ■ . 

■ •H V "♦ ■ . ■ ■' 

^ ' -ir >■■* : 

■i' ‘ • « /p. , • • * ‘ , , 

4Sh-' • M '..T . 


' 't-i 
< » 



. ^ / ! . • -- 

W^.; I 5 x •/, 

‘ •>. . t '* ^'.“ -* ' 

I' (l y I.. ■• . » ' 

i ' * r r. . » k . 


. »* 




II 




' • .* ' . ‘ ' . 

V. 

li ■ *'* V».r . 


■ < 


S'L-fe. 



kV\ 


■Jl'; 



‘- ( 


.f 


■■ ■ A ■■’ ' V , ' 5 : ■' ' 

• '*■'■ .i ■ •■ v • » 

, , ■ ■ ■•> 'I, ■♦■;'• ' , ’ •I'*, 

Vv'-:,. ' . .ij . -> -ji 

K-V ^ • ,-rV 





I 


» <• 


« • 







LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



□ 0DEllt.T5DA 


